Science and Public Bibliography : July 2000*
A monthly round-up of books, reports and articles collated by the Wellcome
Library Information Service. Where freely available, Web links have been
provided to the full text document. All the below references are publicly
available, for reference, in the Information Service,
http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/infoserv ,or from the British Library's Lending
Division via public, academic or workplace libraries.
Articles- Public participation, consultation and attitudes
"What do you think about genetic medicine ? " : facilitating sociable public
discourse on developments in the New Genetics
An important aspect of any meaningful public discussion about developments
in gene technology is the provision of opportunities for interested publics
to engage in sociable public discourse with other lay people and with
experts. This article reports on a series of peer group conversations
conducted in the late 1996 and early 1997 with sixteen community groups in
Pert, Western Australia, interested in gene therapy technology. With the
case of cystic fibrosis as a particular focus, and using background resource
material as stimulus for discussion, the participating groups explored a
range of issues arising from the new genetic medicine. This more discursive
context enabled participants to express a number of background or life-world
concerns about genetic medicine, concerns that are often obscured by the
dominant biomedical and bioethical discourses.
Barns, I., Schibeci, R., Davison, A., Shaw, R. Science, Technology and Human
Values, Vol.25 No.3, Summer 2000 p.283-308
Patients to sit on body controlling NHS reforms
A report comments on the groundbreaking move by government which will enable
both the public and the medical professions to take a leading role in
shaping and modernising the NHS. This announcement follows a decision to
allow patient and consumer groups, as well as doctors and nurses to take up
seats on a new NHS modernisation board.
Independent 4 July 2000 p.7||See also: Guardian 4 July 2000 p.11
Consulting room
What has been referred to as the largest ever public consultation exercise
on healthcare services was completed last month. The national press was
quick to criticise particularly the NHS census involving the distribution of
12 million leaflets with a tear-off reply slip.
Health Service Journal 110 6 July 2000 p.28
Articles- Science Communication
The nature of evidence
Science writer, Boyce Rensberger, describes the ways in which he believes
scientists and journalists can work together to communicate science more
effectively to the public.
Science 289 7 July 2000 p.61
Selling science to the public
An essay by Daily Telegraph Science Editor, Roger Highfield, stresses the
need for scientists to consider their target audience when attempting to
communicate their research.
Science 289 7 July 2000 p.59
Scientists' attitudes to public work surveyed
The attitude of scientists towards science communication activities is the
focus of a project being supported by the Wellcome Trust and the Office of
Science and Technology (OST). The study recognises that scientists
themselves need to be consulted about the development of public
communications strategies.
Research Fortnight 6 5 July 2000 p.4
Articles- Science and Ethics
Allow GM crops to feed poor say top scientists
A report by seven scientific academies, including the Royal Society, urges
private companies to use their expertise in GM technology to help poorer
countries and calls on governments to continue publicly funded research in
this area. The report,Transgenic plants and world agriculture, warned that
broadly written patents may prevent the benefits of GM technology from
becoming widely available.
Times 12 July 2000 p.16
OECD reports on biotech and food safety
In response to a request from the heads of state of the leading G8
industrialised countries, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and
Development (OECD) has prepared a package of reports concerning the issues
of biotechnology and other aspects of food safety. The reports are
available on the OECD's internet site at:
<http://www.oecd.org/subject/biotech/>Outlook on Science Policy July/August
2000 p.78-79
Scientists seek tougher gene patents standards
US scientists concerned about the ethical implications of human gene
patenting have urged the US congress to tighten patents laws during a House
subcommittee hearing. The US government is expected to draft new legislation
to make it tougher for genomics companies such as Celera and Human Genome
Sciences to patent human genes and then demand royalties on any product
associated with these patented genes.
Available from <http://www.globalarchive.ft.com/> by searching on: gene
patents AND US AND celera.
Financial Times 14 July 2000 p.11
Biotechnology: bioethics and decision-making
An article describes a scheme developed at the University of Nottingham
Centre for Applied Bioethics to explore the relationship between
technological innovations, ethical analysis and the decision-making process.
Further details of the BBSRC-funded scheme are available at
http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/bioethics
BBSRC Business July 2000 p.12-13
Articles- Science Centres and Museums
Test-tube mummies
Linda Cooper, Glaxo Wellcome science education officer at the British
Museum, writes about her experience coordinating events for this year's
National Science Week: holding science week events at the British Museum
where people would least expect to find science breaks down preconceived
barriers between culture and science.
Museums Journal July 2000 p.29
Science in American Life, national identity , and the science wars: a
curator's view
The simmering controversy over the Smithsonian's' Science in American Life
exhibitions that lead to an ensuing visitor study by the Institutional
Studies Office is reexamined in terms of issues of American identity. A
brief historical overview reveals that, for most of the twentieth century,
teh American scientific community received enthusiastic public support for
its perceived service to national goals ands ideals. In the past decade,
however, after experiencing budget cuts to research, scientists have
questioned the depth of that public support in what had become known as the
Science Wars. Science in American Life was soon engulfed by that broader,
often acrimonious debate about science and society which involved notions of
pure and applied science. The role of American identity in the dispute over
the exhibit is analyzed in terms of scientists' criticisms of three of the
exhibits case studies (Fall of the Superconducting Super Colider, Fallout
shelter and Rachel Carson's Silent Spring).
Moella, A.P. Curator Vol.42 No.2, April 1999 p.108-116
Visitors role in an exhibition debate: Science in American Life
In the year after the exhibition Science in American Life opened at the
National Museum of American History objections were raised by the
exhibition's chief sponsor, the American Chemical Society, and by the
American Physical Society. These critics argues that the exhibition gave
the public a negative view of science. The Institutional Studies Office was
asked to conduct a study to determine whether or not the exhibition was
affecting visitor's views of science, and, if so, in what direction. Using
an entrance/exit survey design, the study determined conclusively that the
visiting public entered the exhibition with a very positive view of science
and technology and that their views were reinforced and confirmed by the
experience of Science in American Life, rather than changed in either
positive or negative direction.''
Pekarik, A.J. et al Curator Vol.42 No.2, April 1999 p.117-129
* Due to the increasing emphasis on consultative and participatory methods
of science communication the Wellcome Library Information Service has
decided to change the name of our monthly bibliography to 'Science and
Public Bibliography' from 'Public Understanding of Science Bibliography'.
Karen John-Pierre
-------------------------
Information Officer
Wellcome Library
Information Service
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Web: http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/infoserv
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