Fyi - posting ages ago that I was talking about
Dear All,
-----Original Message-----
From: Jonathan Tedds [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 26 May 2004 11:23
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [PSCI-COM] Awards and encouragement
Hello
Is it just me or do many of the current funding and award schemes as
typically posted on psci-com, for example, reward those that have
*already* significantly distinguished themselves rather than encouraging the
vast majority of practising scientists and communicators who would wish to?
I recognise that in reality it becomes a difficult job to decide who should
and shouldn't receive such funds/awards without some distinguishing
mechanism and rewarding success in this regard is in itself desirable! But
when you see recipients of e.g. NESTA dreamtime awards who already have
science/art books in print at time of application and so forth it can seem
rather daunting.
So perhaps an annual open forum could be created where anyone can come for a
day and present their raw ideas for innovative science communication to a
panel and then be invited back if warranting further interest and hence a
further investment of time and effort on behalf of the applicant? This then
does not involve an excessive time investment in the initial stages.
Eventually a limited number of applicants might be offered financial
assistance/secondment and advice having sufficiently convinced the judges.
By the way, I apologise if such a forum already exists!
I think the problem for many practising scientists is that the usual
combination of work and family responsibilities make it extremely difficult
to put into action many of the good ideas we might have. You feel you might
jeopardise your current career (where there is always that pressure to do
your job well and write up and publish ever more while on short term
contracts) if you devote the significant effort required to invest in
serious science writing. On the other hand just a small amount of
encouragement from your peers might make all the difference. Perhaps the
best will always find a way but I believe we can definitely encourage more
to try?
Cheers,
Jonathan
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Dr Jonathan Tedds, Tel: +44 (0)116 252 3502
XMM-Newton Survey Science Centre (XID), Fax: +44 (0)116 252 3311
Department of Physics and Astronomy,
University of Leicester, Email: [log in to unmask]
Leicester LE1 7RH, UK http://xmmssc-www.star.le.ac.uk/~jat
--------------------------------------------------------------------
**********************************************************************
1. To suspend yourself from the list, whilst on leave, for example, send an
email to [log in to unmask] with the following message:
set psci-com nomail
2. To resume email from the list, send the following message:
set psci-com mail
3. To leave psci-com, send an email to [log in to unmask] with the
message:
leave psci-com
4. Further information about the psci-com discussion list, including list
archive, can be found at the list web site:
http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/psci-com.html
5. The psci-com gateway to internet resources on science communication and
science and society can be found at http://psci-com.org.uk
**********************************************************************
**********************************************************************
1. This message (including any attachments) is confidential, and may be legally privileged, and is intended solely for the use of the addressee. If you are not the addressee then please immediately notify the sender at Cheltenham Borough Council and fully delete the message (including any attachments).
2. Any attachments to this message will have been checked for computer viruses prior to leaving Cheltenham Borough Council but you should carry out your own virus check. Cheltenham Borough Council does not accept liability for any loss or damage which may be caused by computer viruses.
3. You are advised not to send highly confidential or sensitive information by e-mail to Cheltenham Borough Council as security of that
information cannot be guaranteed.
4. Any information (including personal information covered by Data
Protection legislation) sent to Cheltenham Borough Council by e-mail
may be copied to Council officials other than the specific addressee
and may, in limited circumstances, be copied to other organisations for
specific purposes, for example, the police for prevention and detection
of crime.
P.O Box 12
Municipal Offices
Promenade
Cheltenham
GL50 1PP
Telephone: +44 1242 262626
FAX: +44 1242 227131
www.cheltenham.gov.uk
**********************************************************************
**********************************************************************
1. To suspend yourself from the list, whilst on leave, for example,
send an email to [log in to unmask] with the following message:
set psci-com nomail
2. To resume email from the list, send the following message:
set psci-com mail
3. To leave psci-com, send an email to [log in to unmask] with the message:
leave psci-com
4. Further information about the psci-com discussion list, including list archive,
can be found at the list web site: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/psci-com.html
5. The psci-com gateway to internet resources on science communication and science
and society can be found at http://psci-com.org.uk
**********************************************************************
|