Science and public bibliography: December 2001 A monthly round-up of books, reports and articles collated by the Wellcome Library's 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. 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] Books & Reports Asher, Herbert. Polling and the public : what every citizen should know, 5th edition Washington, D.C. : CQ Press, c2001, 216p, ISBN 1568025823 Subject headings: Public Opinion; United States Ashton, John F. In six days : why 50 scientists choose to believe in creation Sydney ; London : New Holland, 1999, 360p, ISBN 1864364432 Subject headings: Religion and science; Evolution (Biology) Balashov, Yuri and Rosenberg, Alex. Philosophy of science : contemporary readings London : Routledge, 2001, 522p, ISBN 0415257816 Subject headings: Science - Philosophy Bell, David and Kennedy, Barbara M. The cybercultures reader London ; New York : Routledge, 2000, 768p, ISBN 0415183782 Subject headings: Information technology; Technology - Citizen participation Castells, Manuel. The rise of the network society, 2nd edition Oxford : Blackwell Publishers, 2000, 594p, ISBN 0631221409 Subject headings: Information technology; Technology - Citizen participation Council for Science and Technology. Imagination and understanding : a report on the arts and humanities in relation to science and technology [London : Department of Trade and Industry], 2001, 25p Subject headings: Art and science; Technology and the arts; Great Britain East, Frank. The way we are London : Minerva Press, 2001, 48p, ISBN 0754115801 Subject headings: Religion and science; Evolution (Biology) Hanson, Mark J. ed. Claiming power over life : religion and biotechnology policy Washington, D.C. : Georgetown University Press, c2001, 236p, ISBN 0878408649 Subject headings: Biotechnology; Religion and science Leger Marketing. How Canadians perceive genetically modified organisms : executive report Montreal, Quebec : Leger Marketing, 2001, 16 leaves Subject headings: Genetic engineering - Public opinion; Genetically modified foods; Genetically modified plants http://www.leger-leger.qc.ca/documents/spclm/010723eng.pdf Polkinghorne, John. Faith, science and understanding London : SPCK, 2000, 208p, ISBN 0281052638 Subject headings: Religion and science Articles - Science & Public Public understanding of science: why bother? Science and Government Report, XXXI (17), 1 November 2001, p1-3 It has been assumed that a greater public understanding of science will result in increased public support and less suspicion of science. However, there is little evidence to suggest that this is the case. Despite increased coverage of science in the media, science literacy has not increased and yet the public continue to hold scientists in high regard. Field, Hyman and Powell, Patricia. Public understanding of science versus public understanding of research. Public Understanding of Science, 10 (4), October 2001, p421-426 Few people actually know what research is being conducted or understand why it is being done and what its potential implications may be. This shortcoming needs to be addressed so that people are able to make decisions for themselves and others based on accurate, current and unbiased information. Nurse, Paul. Taking the lead on dialogue. Science and Public Affairs, October 2001, p12-13 In response to the House of Lords Science and Society report published in March 2000, the Royal Society has begun a five-year Science in Society programme. Among the initiatives being organised is a pairing of MPs and scientists aimed an creating a greater understanding of each other's work, regional meetings between scientists and the public and a forum to be held in London in 2002 to debate issues of mutual concern. Articles - Public Attitudes & Participation Denscombe, Martyn. Critical incidents and the perception of health risks: the experiences of young people in relation to their use of alcohol and tobacco. Health, Risk and Society, 3 (3), November 2001, p293-306 It is logical to assume that personal experience of an accident or ill health is likely to change a person's attitude to potential health risks to themselves. A survey of 15-16 year olds examined this assumption with regard to their attitudes towards and use of alcohol and tobacco. However, the findings of the study show that the most important factor influencing young people's attitudes and behaviour is not so much the experience of an accident or ill health itself but rather the particular meaning that young people give to these incidents. Park, Eunkyung, Scherer, Cifford W. And Glynn, Carroll J. Community involvement and risk perception at personal and societal levels. Health, Risk and Society, 3 (3), November 2001, p281-292 According to some risk perception studies, personal and societal level risk judgements are distinct and people do not necessarily draw personal implications from their views about society in general. This study explores the role of community involvement in people's risk judgements by looking at four different health issues - water contamination, radon, AIDS and heart disease. The findings confirm that people tend to have more concern at the societal level than at a personal level and that what influences personal risk judgements most is interpersonal communication. Articles - Science Communication Ghosh, Pallab. A festival comes of age. Science and Public Affairs, October 2001, p18-19 The BA Festival of Science has three inter-related elements, the general public, science communicators and the media. In past years it has been criticised, especially by the media, for supplying only 'reheated' stories. However, this year's festival in Glasgow saw scientists speaking about major issues such as climate change, BSE, and foot and mouth. The change was welcomed by science journalists as an important move towards more openness in science communication. Schwarz, John. Efforts to calm the nation's fears spin out of control. New York Times, 28 October 2001, Section 3, p1-2 Despite its efforts to calm the public's fears over the anthrax threat, the United States government has caused the level of panic to increase rather than to decrease. Many believe that what the public needs most is reliable, accurate and timely information rather than continual reassurances that the situation is under control when it is clearly worsening. These reassurances have simply caused whatever trust the public may have had in the government to evaporate. Articles - Science & Art Bayley, Emma. The inside world of atoms. Focus, December 2001, p8-14 Eric Heller, professor of physics at Harvard University, has created artworks that reflect the mysteries of the subatomic world by using the laws that define quantum mechanics. Through his work, Heller hopes to allow the public to feel the same sense of awe he feels when looking at the microscopic world. His images can be viewed at http://www.ericjhellergallery.com Jones, Robert. "Why can't you scientists leave things alone?" Science questioned in British films of the post-war period (1945-1970). Public Understanding of Science, 10 (4), October 2001, p365-382 Scientists are often portrayed as villains in horror and science fiction films. This paper, however, examines their role in mainstream British films during the period from 1945 to 1970. Many of these films portray science as being politically controlled and shrouded in secrecy. There are also two opposing views of scientists, either as being too detached and unconcerned with the consequences of their work or being too emotional and lacking in objectivity. MacArthur, Ali. The science of Harry Potter. Focus, December 2001, p66-70, 72, 106 In the past, experimental science and magic have been bound together in their attempts to explain the natural world. Ali MacArthur discovers there is much more science in Harry Potter's magic than meets the eye. For example, levitation is similar to the feelings of weightlessness experienced by astronauts, the flight capabilities of a Harrier jet are not very different from a hovering broomstick, and chocolate's ability to ward off black magic is no doubt helped by the scientific finding that it stimulates the production of endorphins which act as a natural opiate. Miller, Arthur. When art and science are shoulder to shoulder. Independent Review, 19 November 2001, p4 It is no coincidence that Einstein and Picasso produced their greatest work at the same time because both were concerned with a similar problem, namely the need to find new ways of understanding space and time. And although one was working in the field of science and the other in art, both came to the same conclusion. There is no single true perspective. The way you look at something is the way it is. http://www.independent.co.uk/story.jsp?story=105562 Taylor, Paul. A mechanical science lesson. Independent Review, 21 November 2001, p12 A review of Oxygen, the 'science-in-fiction' play written by chemists Carl Djerassi and Roald Hoffmann, currently playing at London's Riverside Studios. It is based on the premise that the Nobel Committee has decided in this, its centenary year to give the first "retro-Nobel" to the discoverer of oxygen. However, with three potential candidates, the committee must choose which one of them will be awarded the prize. http://www.independent.co.uk/story.jsp?story=105887 Articles - Science & Media Cookson, Clive. Pitching pharma: biotechnology and the media. HMS Beagle, The BioMedNet Magazine, Issue 114, 9 November 2001 Pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies have recently enjoyed a rapid increase in media coverage. In this article, the author offers advice on understanding and working with journalists to create a more positive impression of these burgeoning industries. The article is available online at http://news.bmn.com/hmsbeagle/114/viewpts/pressbox?print=yes Greenfield, Susan. Comment. Independent Education, 15 November 2001, p2 Greenfield discusses the problems encountered between scientists and the media. While scientists are concerned with painstaking accuracy in only a very small area of expertise, journalists must range in less detail over much wider areas of science. They also need a clear and quick story which scientists are often unable to provide. Scientists do not necessarily have a simple yes/no answer and will wait until results are validated over time before reaching a consensus. However, it is essential for scientists and the media to work together in an effort to bring a greater understanding of science to the public. http://www.independent.co.uk/story.jsp?story=104960 Hunt, Tristram. The appliance of science. Independent Review, 20 November 2001, p8 The Royal Institute's Science Media Centre is due to be opened in December 2001. The centre is the idea of Professor Susan Greenfield, the Institute's director, and Lord Bragg of Wigton. The main aim of the centre is to provide journalists with timely and accurate information so that important science issues can be brought into the public domain and debated in a rational manner without the bias and 'sloganising' that has occurred in the past. http://www.independent.co.uk/story.jsp?story=105756 Kroll, Gary. The "Silent Spring" of Rachel Carson: mass media and the origins of modern environmentalism. Public Understanding of Science, 10 (4), October 2001, p403-420 This essay explores the different meanings of the 1960's pesticide controversy as conveyed by the multiple representations of Rachel Carson's Silent Spring (1962) and provides an analysis of the problems and opportunities for those who attempt to gauge the influence of a book on the public understanding of science. Because Carson's book was used in other forms of media, for example as a serialisation for The New Yorker and as a television documentary, its influence stretched across many media types and reached a much wider audience. McKie, Robin. BBC walks into a storm over unnatural history lessons. Observer, 11 November 2001, p11 The BBC's new series Walking With Beasts follows the rise of mammals from the age of the dinosaurs to the present. However, it is being criticised by academics for blurring fact and fiction. According to British palaeontologist Professor Michael Coates, programmes such as this trivialise science and make claims for which there is no evidence. http://www.observer.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,6903,591412,00.html Thornton, Jacqui. Why does TV always get it wrong on health. Sun, 16 November 2001, p56-57 Popular television programmes such as Eastenders and Coronation Street do more harm than good when it comes to portraying health issues. This article looks at some recent misleading story-lines with GP Carol Cooper explaining where the facts were wrong and suggesting how the programmes could have presented the issues in a much more informative manner. Articles - Science Education Assinder, Sue. Alphabet of science. Microbiology Today, 28 (4), November 2001, p200-201 As part of National Science Week, CELTEC, (North Wales Training and Enterprise), organised a novel project involving local schools, businesses and the University of Wales, Bangor. Schools were assigned a letter of the alphabet and a scientific topic beginning with that letter. They were then offered the help of university 'experts' to produce a display stand on the topic for Science Week activities. On the whole, the project was felt to be a positive experience for the local students and created considerable interest from members of the public who visited the display during the week. Buchanan, Douglas. Work still needs to be done to promote science. Scotsman, 21 November 2001, p12 The Scottish Executive has recently published its Science Strategy for Scotland. However, in order to promote science throughout the country, more needs to be done in schools to ensure that science teachers have adequate training and support, that there are appropriate resources available and that students' interests are stimulated enough to motivate many more to continue their science education beyond school. Farenga, Stephen, Joyce, Beverley and Ness, Daniel. The science and mathematics of nature. Science Scope, 25 (2), October 2001, p10-13 This article provides some ideas for using nature to illustrate that the patterns in mathematics and science mirror the patterns of life. In mathematics, Fibonacci numbers are used to identify patterns and can be demonstrated in the classroom with images from nature such as pinecones and artichoke hearts. Herald, Christine. Toys that teach. Science Scope, 25 (2), October 2001, p26-30 Heard suggests a number of activities for the physics classroom that can be carried out using common toys. Small toy cars can be used to teach acceleration. A Slinky demonstrates how the movement of a coil affects wavelengths and differently sized balls can be used to discuss how and why things bounce. Articles- Science Museums & Science Centres Heywood, Felicity. Herbal remedy. Museums Journal, 101 (11), November 2001, p27-29 A visit to the Old Operating Theatre, Museum and Herb Garret in the roof space of St Thomas's Church in London will provide visitors with an opportunity to visit Britain's oldest operating theatre and understand what it may have been like to undergo surgery in the days before anaesthetics. The collection also includes an apothecary's shop filled with herbs, a variety of medical instruments and displays on the history of St Thomas' Hospital, Guys Hospital, Florence Nightingale's School of Nursing and the Evelina Children's hospital. For more information about the museum, visit the website at http://www.thegarret.org.uk/ Lewis, Peter. Smart thinking. Museums Journal, 101 (11), November 2001, p50 Thinktank is Birmingham's new Museum of Science and Discovery. It aims 'to be a place where science comes alive for the general public' and has a diverse range of exhibitions and galleries catering for all ages. Some of the many attractions include The Street, an area that explores the science of everyday things and Things About Me, dealing with the workings of the human body. There are also areas on medical discoveries, the industrial revolution, how things are made and what new technologies may be developed in the future. The museum's website can be found at http://www.thinktank.ac/ ++++++++++++++++++ Louise Simon Information Officer Wellcome Trust Library for the History and Understanding of Medicine 183 Euston Road London NW1 2BE Telephone: +44 (0)20 7611 7316 Fax: +44 (0)020 7611 8726 mailto:[log in to unmask] The Wellcome Trust is a registered charity, no.210183. Its sole Trustee is the Wellcome Trust Limited, a company registered in England, no. 2711000, whose registered office is 183 Euston Road, London NW1 2BE. Have you visited psci-com, the searchable database of quality internet resources on the public understanding of science? 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