Science and public bibliography: November/December 2000*
A monthly round-up of books, reports and articles collated by the Wellcome
Library's Information Service. <http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/infoserv> 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.
As a last resort, the Wellcome Trust library operates a remote photocopying
service for articles difficult to obtain elsewhere. There is an escalating
charge depending on the number of pages copied. The minimum charge is £5
for copying 10 pages or less. Please contact the Information Service
enquiry desk on tel. no. 020-7611-8722 or email: [log in to unmask]
* The month included in the title now reflects the date of production of
the bibliography. Next month's bibliography will be dated January 2001.
Books & Reports
Dierkes, Meinolf & von Grote, Claudia (eds.)
Between understanding and trust : the public, science and technology /
edited by Amsterdam : Harwood Academic, 2000 381p. ISBN: 9058230074
Subject headings: Science - public opinion; communication in science;
science in the mass media
Durant, John & Lindsey, Nicola (primary authors)
The 'great GM food debate' : a survey of media coverage in the first half of
1999 London : Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology, 2000 52p.
ISBN: 189794196X
Subject headings: Science in the mass media; genetically modified food; food
safety
Office of Science and Technology, Wellcome Trust
Science and the Public: A Review of Science Communication and Public
Attitudes to Science in Britain.
London: The Wellcome Trust, 2000 136p. ISBN: 1841290254
Subject headings: Science - public opinion
<http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/en/images/sciencepublic_3391.pdf>
Orey, Michael
Assuming the risk : the mavericks, the lawyers, and the whistle-blowers who
beat big tobacco.
Boston : Little, Brown, and Co., c1999 385p. ISBN: 0316664898
Subject headings: Risk communication
Stannard, Russell (ed.)
God for the 21st century.
Philadelphia : Templeton Foundation Press ; London : SPCK, c2000 194p.
ISBN: 189015136X
Subject headings: Religion and science
Articles - Science & Public
European cities host discussions on science and technology.
The Lancet 18 November 2000 p.1748
As part of the European Science and Technology week, five European cities
hosted "Genetics in Europe" open days for scientists, journalists and the
public.
Back to the laws of thermodynamics.
The Lancet 25 November 2000 p.1781
An editorial surveys the problems ahead in enhancing public engagement with
science, stressing the problems in conveying the uncertainties inherent in
medical research.
Articles - Public Attitudes & Participation
Hayes, Bernadette C. & Tariq, Vicki N. Gender differences in scientific
knowledge and attitudes toward science: a comparative study of four
Anglo-American nations.
Public Understanding of Science Vol.9 No.4 October 2000 pp.433-447.
Using data from the 1993 International Social Survey Programme Environment
Survey, the authors show that women's knowledge and interest in science is
less than men's and their attitude less favourable. However, in Canada,
Great Britain and New Zealand, these gender differences are due to
disparities in educational background and religious belief, not to
variations in scientific knowledge. However, in the US it is differences in
scientific knowledge and not social background which explains the difference
in attitude.
Luján, José L. & Todt, Oliver. Perceptions, attitudes and ethical
evaluations: the ambivalence of the public image of biotechnology in Spain.
Public Understanding of Science Vol.9 No.4 October 2000 pp.383-392.
This paper analyses other studies on public perception of biotechnology made
at Spanish and European levels, testing their applicability and describing
their limits. The study shows there is an ambivalence by the public towards
these issues, with a difference in response noted between moral and purely
scientific issues
Neresini, Federico. And man descended from the sheep: the public debate on
cloning in the Italian press.
Public Understanding of Science Vol.9 No.4 October 2000 pp.359-382
The author analyses the Italian press to interpret how the issue of Dolly
and animal cloning has been handled. Cloning encompasses an expanding
network of issues and many viewpoints are represented. These different
positions contribute to establishing animal cloning as a scientific fact
within the media.
Radford, Tim. Poll reveals fear over advance of gene science.
Guardian 27 November 2000 p.12
The Human Genetics Commission has published a preliminary study entitled
"Whose hands on your genes?" which concludes that seven out of ten people
feel they do not have enough information about controls on biological
developments. The study is published as the commission launches a large
public consultation on the future use of genetic information.
<http://www.hgc.gov.uk/business_consultations2.htm>
Articles - Science Communication
Ahuja, Anjana. Science on a screen near you.
Times 9 November 2000 pp.10-11
The author reports on the criticism scientists can face when they enter the
public arena and face accusations of "dumbing down" science by others in the
scientific community. She writes as the Royal Institution prepares to
debate the topic in the last of its "Scientists for the new century" series
of public debates.
<http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/0,,32495,00.html>
Articles - Science & Art
The winning images that capture world of wonder.
Daily Telegraph 1 November 2000 p.10
The winners of the first Daily Telegraph/Novartis Visions of Science
photography competition have been announced. Images include a nerve cell
from a ferret's retina, a skeletal hand holding an image of the world in its
fingers, and a crane fly's eye. The pictures had to be original, striking
and communicate an aspect of science to a wider audience.
<http://www.telegraph.co.uk/et?ac=003941675528942&rtmo=qxLebJe9&atmo=rrrrrrr
q&pg=/et/00/11/1/nphot01.html>
Clewlow, Carol. Pass the scalpel and a pencil.
Times Higher Education Supplement 3 November 2000 pp.20-21
The author is the new author-in-residence at Newcastle University Medical
School. The novels, poetry and medicine course provides students with an
introduction to literature and looks at how death, dying and disease are
portrayed in fiction. Literature is thought to be a valid part of medical
education because it can be considered a source of the "knowledge of
humanity".
Articles - Science & Media
Are we all so hopeless at science?
Financial Times 22 November 2000 p.20
The author laments the under-representation of science programmes on
television in contrast to the abundance of popular arts coverage. Science
is too often represented by wildlife programmes and he argues that series
such as "Horizon" and Robert Winston's "Superhuman" underestimate the
public's ability to understand science and opt for a populist and accessible
approach.
Articles- Science Museums & Science Centres
Science centre "won't be a millennium flop".
Independent 22 November 2000 p.6
Britain's first "science adventure centre" will open next April in
Rotherham, South Yorkshire. Called "Magna", the centre hopes to attract
300,000 people a year by offering populist, interactive exhibits. Stephen
Feber, the centre's chief executive, was recruited from the successful
Eureka children's museum in Halifax.
Henriksen, Ellen K. & Frøyland, Merethe. The contribution of museums to
scientific literacy: views from audience and museum professionals.
Public Understanding of Science Vol.9 No.4 October 2000 pp.393-415
The authors explore whether museums are contributing to the greater
understanding of scientific issues by the public. They use the issue of
radon in schools to gauge parents' and museum professionals' opinion on
whether museums can provide information on science-related issues. Both
groups did not expect museums to be able to provide this kind of information
and the challenge for museums is to overcome this scepticism. Issues for
future research are suggested.
Persson, Per-Edvin. Science centers are thriving and going strong!
Public Understanding of Science Vol.9 No.4 October 2000 pp.449-460
The author contests the view of JM Bradburne that science centers are
unwilling to adapt and will, therefore, not survive. He uses examples of
science centers around the world to show that they are changing, inventive
and provide value for money.
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