http://scienceblogs.com/speakingscience/ en Copyright 2009 Fri, 31 Aug 2007 09:59:12 -0500 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/?v=4.23-en http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss SpeakingScience20http://feedburner.google.com <p><img class="inset" alt="ScienceCover.gif" src="http://scienceblogs.com/speakingscience/ScienceCover.gif" width="108" height="145" /></p> <p><em>Science</em> has <a href="http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/317/5842/1168b">published</a> four letters in response to our framing <a href="http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/316/5821/56?ijkey=DPepoGfe19d4Q&keytype=ref&siteid=sci">article</a> along with a fifth letter as our reply. Over at <em><a href="http://scienceblogs.com/framing-science/2007/08/at_science_an_exchange_on_fram.php">Framing Science</a></em>, I have posted the text of the reply that I wrote to all four letters. Hopefully I will be able to get an author referral link in the near future so that readers can have access to the full text of the other letters. </p> <p>In an upcoming issue of <em>The Scientist</em> magazine, I team up with <a href="http://www.dietramscheufele.com/cont_pg.html">Dietram Scheufele</a> in contributing a feature article that elaborates on framing and its relevance to new directions in science communication. For the past couple of weeks, at its Web site, the magazine has been sponsoring a <a href="http://www.thescientist.com/news/home/53446/">discussion</a> on the topic and a Web poll of readers. </p> <p>Over at <em>Nanopublic</em>, Scheufele has this blog <a href="http://nanopublic.blogspot.com/2007/08/framing-debate-about-science.html">post</a> up about the letters. At the <em>Intersection</em>, Mooney has <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/intersection/2007/08/framing_science_letters_exchan.php">more.</a></p> <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/speakingscience/2007/08/at_science_discussion_of_frami.php#commentsArea">Read the comments on this post...</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/SpeakingScience20/~4/G5S1_VtsJhs" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SpeakingScience20/~3/G5S1_VtsJhs/at_science_discussion_of_frami.php http://scienceblogs.com/speakingscience/2007/08/at_science_discussion_of_frami.php Discussion Fri, 31 Aug 2007 09:59:12 -0500 http://scienceblogs.com/speakingscience/2007/08/at_science_discussion_of_frami.php <p><object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/dXT4ISnQccc"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/dXT4ISnQccc" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object></p> <p>We will be going back on the road this fall--our calendar has in fact filled up quite quickly. So we're pleased to announce the following confirmed events this September through November, with as many details as are currently available. Stops include Minneapolis, New York, Washington, D.C., and Seattle; note in particular the second Sept. 28 event where we'll be on a panel with <a href="http://gregladen.com/wordpress/">Greg Laden</a>, which we're hoping PZ Myers will also join as this is kinda his stomping grounds:</p> <blockquote><b>Friday, September 28</b> <br>3:15 pm <br><a href="http://www.arhp.org/rh2007/2007agenda.cfm">Annual Meeting--Association of Reproductive Health Professionals</a> <br>Hilton Minneapolis <br>Minneapolis, MN <p><b>Friday, September 28</b><br /> Panel Discussion***: Speaking Science 2.0: New directions in science communication<br /> 7:30p.m.<br /> <a href="http://www.bellmuseum.org/calendar.html">Bell Museum</a> Auditorium<br /> University of Minnesota<br /> Minneapolis, MN</p> <p><b>Tuesday, October 2</b><br /> 6:30 PM<br /> George Washington University--Mt Vernon Campus<br /> Foxhall Rd., NW<br /> More details TBA</p> <p><b>Friday, October 5</b> <br>7:00 pm <br>Sponsored by the <a href="http://www.fosep.org/">Forum on Science, Ethics, and Policy (FOSEP)</a> <br>Pacific Science Center's Eames IMAX Theater <br>Seattle, WA <p><b>Wednesday, October 24 </b> <br>6:30 pm <br>General Society of Mechanics & Tradesmen, 20 W. 44th St. <br>New York, NY <br><a href="http://www.centerforinquiry.net/nyc/events/voices_of_reason_oct_2007/">Event sponsored by Center for Inquiry-New York</a> <p><b>Tuesday, November 27</b> <br>Time and Location TBA <br>National Academy of Sciences <br>Washington, D.C. <p>(*** Featuring Mooney, Nisbet, University of Minnesota anthropologist Greg Laden, and moderator Jessica Marshall, a U of M science journalism professor. A reception in Dinkytown will follow the event. Co-sponsored by the Bell Museum of Natural History; <i>Seed</i> Magazine/ScienceBlogs; The Humphrey Institute's Center for Science, Technology and Public Policy; and the Minnesota Journalism Center. See <a href="http://www.bellmuseum.org/calendar.html">bellmuseum.org</a> for reservation details and further information.)</blockquote> <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/speakingscience/2007/08/speaking_science_20_resumes_fo.php#commentsArea">Read the comments on this post...</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/SpeakingScience20/~4/UnDLkGDU6Ec" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SpeakingScience20/~3/UnDLkGDU6Ec/speaking_science_20_resumes_fo.php http://scienceblogs.com/speakingscience/2007/08/speaking_science_20_resumes_fo.php Announcements Tue, 28 Aug 2007 09:55:05 -0500 http://scienceblogs.com/speakingscience/2007/08/speaking_science_20_resumes_fo.php <p><em>The Scientist</em> is currently sponsoring an <a href="http://www.the-scientist.com/news/home/53446/">online discussion</a> about framing and new directions in science communication. The web feature is in advance of an article I am contributing to the magazine, co-authored with <a href="http://www.dietramscheufele.com/">Dietram Scheufele</a>, a colleague at the University of Wisconsin. So far, more than 40 comments have been posted. There is also a reader survey at the site. </p> <p>Regarding <em>The Scientist</em> discussion, Mary Miller has more to add in a <a href="http://apps.exploratorium.edu/blogs/marym/2007/08/02/can-scientists-be-great-communicators/">post</a> at her blog <em>The Accidental Scientist</em>.<br /> </p> <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/speakingscience/2007/08/another_online_debate_over_fra.php#commentsArea">Read the comments on this post...</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/SpeakingScience20/~4/9Oyz9W7ecyc" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SpeakingScience20/~3/9Oyz9W7ecyc/another_online_debate_over_fra.php http://scienceblogs.com/speakingscience/2007/08/another_online_debate_over_fra.php Announcements Tue, 14 Aug 2007 13:00:28 -0500 http://scienceblogs.com/speakingscience/2007/08/another_online_debate_over_fra.php <p>Everyone claims it's a major societal problem, but what does science literacy exactly mean? What does past research suggest are the valid definitions of this frequently used term? Similarly, what is meant by the "public understanding of science"? Is it the same thing as "public engagement"? As I explain in our <em>Framing Science</em> article at <em>Science</em> and in the <em>Speaking Science 2.0</em> road show, these definitions matter when it comes to effective public communication.</p> <p>Over at my blog <em>Framing Science</em>, I <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/framing-science/2007/07/the_misunderstood_meanings_of.php">repost</a> a 2005 column that I wrote for Skeptical Inquirer Online. The short piece offers a lot for thought and discussion. Ultimately how we come to define these terms has direct bearing for how we choose to engage the public on controversial areas of science.</p> <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/speakingscience/2007/07/why_definitions_of_science_lit.php#commentsArea">Read the comments on this post...</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/SpeakingScience20/~4/E_eH-PBebdY" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SpeakingScience20/~3/E_eH-PBebdY/why_definitions_of_science_lit.php http://scienceblogs.com/speakingscience/2007/07/why_definitions_of_science_lit.php Discussion Tue, 17 Jul 2007 10:34:28 -0500 http://scienceblogs.com/speakingscience/2007/07/why_definitions_of_science_lit.php <p>Over at the immensely popular environmental site TreeHugger.com, Chris <a href="http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/06/the_th_interview.php">discusses</a> <em>Storm World</em>, his new book on the science and politics of hurricanes, as well as the reaction to the Nisbet & Mooney article at <em>Science</em> and our <em>Speaking Science 2.0</em> tour.</p> <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/speakingscience/2007/06/at_treehuggercom_mooney_on_fra.php#commentsArea">Read the comments on this post...</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/SpeakingScience20/~4/-puEJBiiGUM" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SpeakingScience20/~3/-puEJBiiGUM/at_treehuggercom_mooney_on_fra.php http://scienceblogs.com/speakingscience/2007/06/at_treehuggercom_mooney_on_fra.php Announcements Thu, 28 Jun 2007 16:22:21 -0500 http://scienceblogs.com/speakingscience/2007/06/at_treehuggercom_mooney_on_fra.php <p>Over at <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/framing-science/2007/06/reader_poll_the_next_big_frami.php#more">Framing Science</a>, I've posed a question to readers to comment on:</p> <p><strong>In the coming decades, what are the next great framing controversies? What are the public engagement flashpoints to anticipate? On what issues can we apply a scientific understanding of the public and the media system to avoid communication failures?</strong></p> <p>Here's the chance to offer some of your own thoughts. </p> <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/speakingscience/2007/06/forecasting_the_next_big_scien.php#commentsArea">Read the comments on this post...</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/SpeakingScience20/~4/qAJHH3QEIpg" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SpeakingScience20/~3/qAJHH3QEIpg/forecasting_the_next_big_scien.php http://scienceblogs.com/speakingscience/2007/06/forecasting_the_next_big_scien.php Discussion Wed, 27 Jun 2007 09:56:47 -0500 http://scienceblogs.com/speakingscience/2007/06/forecasting_the_next_big_scien.php <p><img alt="NYAS.GIF" src="http://scienceblogs.com/framing-science/upload/2007/06/NYAS.GIF" width="180" height="150" /></p> <p>On June 4, more than 120 people turned out for the Nisbet & Mooney <em>Speaking Science 2.0</em> talk at the New York Academy of Sciences. The talk is now part of their online content, including an E-briefing summary along with the powerpoint slides synchronized with audio of our presentation. With this tool you can listen to the entire talk or scroll through the labeled sections and slides based on topic. </p> <p><strong>NYAS has allowed free access to this member content by way of the following <a href="http://www.nyas.org/ebrief/miniEB.asp?ebriefID=658&PartnerCD=framing&TrackCD=658">link</a> from our respective Web sites.</strong></p> <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/speakingscience/2007/06/slides_and_audio_of_nisbetmoon.php#commentsArea">Read the comments on this post...</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/SpeakingScience20/~4/VS1HF4MOdlM" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SpeakingScience20/~3/VS1HF4MOdlM/slides_and_audio_of_nisbetmoon.php http://scienceblogs.com/speakingscience/2007/06/slides_and_audio_of_nisbetmoon.php Announcements Tue, 26 Jun 2007 16:07:39 -0500 http://scienceblogs.com/speakingscience/2007/06/slides_and_audio_of_nisbetmoon.php <p>Over at <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/framing-science/2007/06/the_new_atheism_and_a_purpose.php">Framing Science</a>, I describe what I find so troubling about the Dawkins/Hitchens PR campaign: <br /> <strong><br /> It has radicalized a New Atheist movement of complaints and attacks that is almost completely devoid of a positive message about what it means to live life without religion. </strong></p> <p>Long before the New Atheist movement, sociologists began to identify an increase in the number of Americans who report "no religion" in surveys. What this growing segment of Americans needs is not a set of leaders who employ a form of "us vs. them" binary reasoning to add further division and polarization to the country, but leaders who set an agenda focused on community life and social responsibility. We need leaders who encourage atheists to work together with religious Americans to solve collective problems such as poverty and climate change. </p> <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/speakingscience/2007/06/the_poverty_of_the_new_atheism.php#commentsArea">Read the comments on this post...</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/SpeakingScience20/~4/6FqST1L-6xg" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SpeakingScience20/~3/6FqST1L-6xg/the_poverty_of_the_new_atheism.php http://scienceblogs.com/speakingscience/2007/06/the_poverty_of_the_new_atheism.php Discussion Tue, 26 Jun 2007 13:41:05 -0500 http://scienceblogs.com/speakingscience/2007/06/the_poverty_of_the_new_atheism.php <p>In our last major talk of the summer here in DC, on Tues. June 19 we will be delivering our <em>Speaking Science 2.0</em> presentation at the Center for American Progress. Breakfast is served at 830am. The talk and discussion follows from 10 to 1130am. The Center has all the details <a href="http://www.americanprogress.org/events/2007/06/framing_science">here.</a></p> <p>CAP senior fellow and former assistant Energy secretary Joseph Romm will be hosting the event. He's the author of the terrific new book <em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hell-High-Water-Warming-Politics/dp/006117212X">Hell and High Water: Global Warming-The Solution and the Politics</a></em> and also contributes the popular <a href="http://climateprogress.org/">Climate Progress</a> blog. </p> <p>As was the case earlier this month at the <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/framing-science/2007/06/on_framing_science_thoughts_fr.php">New York Academy of Sciences</a>, we expect a very large turn out and a healthy discussion to follow. Hopefully readers in the Beltway area can make it out.</p> <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/speakingscience/2007/06/next_talk_center_for_american.php#commentsArea">Read the comments on this post...</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/SpeakingScience20/~4/Do0l5jmF7ns" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SpeakingScience20/~3/Do0l5jmF7ns/next_talk_center_for_american.php http://scienceblogs.com/speakingscience/2007/06/next_talk_center_for_american.php Announcements Wed, 13 Jun 2007 17:05:02 -0500 http://scienceblogs.com/speakingscience/2007/06/next_talk_center_for_american.php <p>Over at <em>Framing Science</em>, I have a <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/framing-science/2007/06/reticence_the_ipccs_communicat.php">post</a> describing how James Hansen's efforts to frame the scientific agenda on climate change are proving once again influential, as evidenced by a news feature last week at <em>Science</em>. In commentaries and media interviews, Hansen is using the frame device of "reticence" to challenge the assumptions applied by the IPCC in arriving at predictions of seal level rise. Joined by other climate scientists, Hansen backs up his efforts with scientific papers recently published at leading journals.</p> <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/speakingscience/2007/06/how_james_hansen_shapes_the_fr.php#commentsArea">Read the comments on this post...</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/SpeakingScience20/~4/W5vbTAQSS9k" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SpeakingScience20/~3/W5vbTAQSS9k/how_james_hansen_shapes_the_fr.php http://scienceblogs.com/speakingscience/2007/06/how_james_hansen_shapes_the_fr.php Discussion Wed, 13 Jun 2007 12:26:55 -0500 http://scienceblogs.com/speakingscience/2007/06/how_james_hansen_shapes_the_fr.php <p>As we argue in the Nisbet & Mooney <em>Framing Science</em> <a href="http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/316/5821/56?ijkey=DPepoGfe19d4Q&keytype=ref&siteid=sci">thesis</a>, infotainment dominates science as a news narrative. Despite record amounts of media attention, climate change still routinely falls short of a top news agenda item, making it exceedingly difficult to engage a broader American audience by way of traditional science communication efforts.</p> <p>In my latest blog <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/framing-science/2007/06/paris_nicole_smith_trumps_glob.php">entry</a> at <em>Framing Science</em>, I detail the latest from the Pew Media Index, which finds that while climate change failed to crack the top 10 issues covered by the media during the first quarter of 2007, Anna Nicole Smith did quite well. <strong>In fact, at Fox News, coverage of the former Playboy model's death was the second most covered issued during the first three months of 2007, accounting for an astounding 10% of total news time.</strong> </p> <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/speakingscience/2007/06/at_fox_news_anna_nicole_smith.php#commentsArea">Read the comments on this post...</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/SpeakingScience20/~4/gNVmX8cezIc" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SpeakingScience20/~3/gNVmX8cezIc/at_fox_news_anna_nicole_smith.php http://scienceblogs.com/speakingscience/2007/06/at_fox_news_anna_nicole_smith.php Discussion Tue, 12 Jun 2007 11:00:03 -0500 http://scienceblogs.com/speakingscience/2007/06/at_fox_news_anna_nicole_smith.php <p>The answer is probably not, but journal editors do have other motives and incentives involved than just publishing technically sound research. With the publication of two studies last week that shaped the framing of the stem cell vote in Congress, over at <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/framing-science/2007/06/understanding_the_political_ti.php">Framing Science</a>, I explain the "negotiation of scientific newsworthiness" that goes on between journal editors and news organizations. </p> <p>In fact, I argue that journal editors and news editors share many common imperatives, notably that they work for profit-driven organizations that need to maintain a subscriber base by generating drama, interest, and attention. <em>Given these biases, the timing of publication at leading journals is likely to be more than just random.</em></p> <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/speakingscience/2007/06/are_science_journals_trying_to.php#commentsArea">Read the comments on this post...</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/SpeakingScience20/~4/_USPiBfMoM8" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SpeakingScience20/~3/_USPiBfMoM8/are_science_journals_trying_to.php http://scienceblogs.com/speakingscience/2007/06/are_science_journals_trying_to.php Discussion Mon, 11 Jun 2007 11:40:14 -0500 http://scienceblogs.com/speakingscience/2007/06/are_science_journals_trying_to.php <p>Monday night we delivered our latest presentation of the Nisbet & Mooney <em>Framing Science</em> thesis at the new headquarters of the New York Academy of Sciences. Close to 150 people turned out for what proved to be a lively Q&A and reception that followed. The talk was covered by the <em>Columbia Journalism Review</em> and blogged about by John Horgan, author of <em>End of Science</em>. Over at our respective blogs, we have more details, including my <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/framing-science/2007/06/on_framing_science_thoughts_fr.php">reply</a> to Horgan and Chris' <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/intersection/2007/06/new_york_wrapup.php">reply</a> to NASA scientist Gavin Schmidt, who was also in attendance.</p> <p>Our next public presentation will be here in DC on June 19, 12:30 pm at the Center for American Progress. We are expecting another very large audience to be on hand!</p> <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/speakingscience/2007/06/speaking_science_20_forty_floo.php#commentsArea">Read the comments on this post...</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/SpeakingScience20/~4/88ix5wqf9cQ" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SpeakingScience20/~3/88ix5wqf9cQ/speaking_science_20_forty_floo.php http://scienceblogs.com/speakingscience/2007/06/speaking_science_20_forty_floo.php Wed, 06 Jun 2007 14:22:18 -0500 http://scienceblogs.com/speakingscience/2007/06/speaking_science_20_forty_floo.php <p>Framing occurs across the news production process. It's a function of reporter and source interaction, the decisions made by editors, and the intended audience for the news report.</p> <p>Over at <em><a href="http://scienceblogs.com/framing-science/2007/06/at_nytimes_and_htribune_how_di.php">Framing Science</a></em>, I detail a classic example, as the same story filed by Andrew Revkin was edited very differently at the sister pubs <em>The International Herald Tribune </em>and <em>The NY Times</em>. This framing-by-way-of-editing leads to varying interpretations as to the motivations of the Bush administration and how experts are evaluating its new climate plan.</p> <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/speakingscience/2007/06/how_the_news_production_proces.php#commentsArea">Read the comments on this post...</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/SpeakingScience20/~4/QQkWA_KUS5g" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SpeakingScience20/~3/QQkWA_KUS5g/how_the_news_production_proces.php http://scienceblogs.com/speakingscience/2007/06/how_the_news_production_proces.php Mon, 04 Jun 2007 10:34:30 -0500 http://scienceblogs.com/speakingscience/2007/06/how_the_news_production_proces.php <p>It's official: The "<a href="http://www.scienceblogs.com/speakingscience/">Speaking Science 2.0" talk</a> is <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXT4ISnQccc">now viewable in its entirety on YouTube</a>:</p> <p><object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/dXT4ISnQccc"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/dXT4ISnQccc" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object></p> <p>The presentation above is the one given by Matt and myself at the annual meeting of the American Institute of Biological Sciences a few weeks back. Unfortunately, you can't see the PowerPoint slides; you can only see us talking. So not everything will make absolutely perfect sense, especially in my parts of the talk, because I don't always describe in words what I'm showing on the screen.</p> <p>Still, this is a far fuller explication of our ideas than exists anywhere else; and I flatter myself in thinking that it's even a bit entertaining at times. And don't be put off by the 71 minute run time; much of that is the Q & A after the talk.</p> <p>Finally, Matt and I are giving the presentation again (with modifications) next Monday at the New York Academy of Sciences...details <a href="http://www.nyas.org/events/eventDetail.asp?eventID=9311&date=6/4/2007%206:00:00%20PM">here</a>. I hope New York readers will come on out....</p> <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/speakingscience/2007/05/watch_speaking_science_20_in_y.php#commentsArea">Read the comments on this post...</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/SpeakingScience20/~4/yfzfqApQX9o" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SpeakingScience20/~3/yfzfqApQX9o/watch_speaking_science_20_in_y.php http://scienceblogs.com/speakingscience/2007/05/watch_speaking_science_20_in_y.php Announcements Wed, 30 May 2007 10:03:31 -0500 http://scienceblogs.com/speakingscience/2007/05/watch_speaking_science_20_in_y.php