I guess initiatives like the Skeptics in the Pub meetings (also dealing with science sometimes) hope to achieve that, by drawing in outsiders who want to know more about science but don’t know how to do so. As do your own Citizen Science projects!

The sad thing I see all the time in the UK is the trust that people with less education place in the worst tabloids and their faux-science coverage (coffee/tea/meat causes cancer, aspirin causes heart attacks, climate change is fake etc). There are probably US equivalents but the Daily Mail, Express, Star help to keep people ignorant of the facts.

I guess initiatives like the Skeptics in the Pub meetings (also dealing with science sometimes) hope to achieve that, by drawing in outsiders who want to know more about science but don’t know how to do so. As do your own Citizen Science projects!

The sad thing I see all the time in the UK is the trust that people with less education place in the worst tabloids and their faux-science coverage (coffee/tea/meat causes cancer, aspirin causes heart attacks, climate change is fake etc). There are probably US equivalents but the Daily Mail, Express, Star help to keep people ignorant of the facts.

That said, there are some folks on FB who get intimidated when I tell them I work for NASA. I then explain, quickly, that I am an English major, not a rocket scientist, and that you really don’t want me touching anything that can go boom.

But we have enshrined this Cult of the Scientist for awhile…maybe since Einstein, maybe since the development of the atomic bomb. What scientists and engineers do is difficult. Some of if requires math, which schools barely teach anymore. Some of it requires calm, rational thought when some people would prefer to just have their opinions and prejudices handed to them. A republic takes work, it takes an active, involved citizenry. The internet and other technologies give individuals more power than ever to learn what’s going on and to make a difference in the debates shaping our world. However, what they see is an incredibly complex, seemingly overwhelming technocracy ruled by elites and experts and they figure, “What good can I do? I’m just one person.”

That’s why your site is important, Dar. You encourage people to take action, get involved, and learn something so that they CAN make a difference. Keep fighting that good fight!

Over and out,

/b

That said, there are some folks on FB who get intimidated when I tell them I work for NASA. I then explain, quickly, that I am an English major, not a rocket scientist, and that you really don’t want me touching anything that can go boom.

But we have enshrined this Cult of the Scientist for awhile…maybe since Einstein, maybe since the development of the atomic bomb. What scientists and engineers do is difficult. Some of if requires math, which schools barely teach anymore. Some of it requires calm, rational thought when some people would prefer to just have their opinions and prejudices handed to them. A republic takes work, it takes an active, involved citizenry. The internet and other technologies give individuals more power than ever to learn what’s going on and to make a difference in the debates shaping our world. However, what they see is an incredibly complex, seemingly overwhelming technocracy ruled by elites and experts and they figure, “What good can I do? I’m just one person.”

That’s why your site is important, Dar. You encourage people to take action, get involved, and learn something so that they CAN make a difference. Keep fighting that good fight!

Over and out,

/b

Science for the “common man” will never ever progress if one preaches to the choir. We get it. The trick is to get other people to follow suite.

The last couple of weeks I have been in a class that involves a lot of drilling precision holes and then slamming solid rivits into them. But I took every opportunity to let my “Nerd” fly and I made some compelling arguements for how we were developing a critical skill for engineer. (Truth be told the most entertaining part was explining shark behavior and biology to some of the surfers in the class….)

The thing is the guys I have spent the last couple of weeks with are not dumb or ignorant but a long shot. They are all highly capable tradesmen who never really stopped and looked deeper at the world around them. Most people I run into are like that. Not stupid. Just never had the chance to sit down between working for a living and paying their bills to wonder why things are the way they are.

I say “Awesome!” Darlene for bringing the message to the people!

My best,

Buzz Ryan

Science for the “common man” will never ever progress if one preaches to the choir. We get it. The trick is to get other people to follow suite.

The last couple of weeks I have been in a class that involves a lot of drilling precision holes and then slamming solid rivits into them. But I took every opportunity to let my “Nerd” fly and I made some compelling arguements for how we were developing a critical skill for engineer. (Truth be told the most entertaining part was explining shark behavior and biology to some of the surfers in the class….)

The thing is the guys I have spent the last couple of weeks with are not dumb or ignorant but a long shot. They are all highly capable tradesmen who never really stopped and looked deeper at the world around them. Most people I run into are like that. Not stupid. Just never had the chance to sit down between working for a living and paying their bills to wonder why things are the way they are.

I say “Awesome!” Darlene for bringing the message to the people!

My best,

Buzz Ryan