You might also want to look at Chris Mooney (author of Unscientific America, which suggested that there was a war on science in the Bush/Republican/Right wing), who wondered whether we would see left-wing anti-science rhetoric in the wake of Fukushima.
 
A number of posts are at:
 
http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/intersection/2011/03/14/are-liberals-science-deniers-now-is-a-good-time-to-find-out/
 
http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/intersection/2011/04/04/the-politics-of-nuclear-power-wheres-the-left-wing-science-denial/
 
http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/intersection/2011/04/05/the-left-abusing-nuclear-science-monbiot-vs-caldicott/
 
http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/intersection/2011/04/05/libs-on-nukes/
 
(Granted, there's a US focus there but I'd put money on being able to find a UK context to that very easily.)
 
D

On 6 April 2011 09:14, Hilary Sutcliffe <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
Ah, maybe you're right, I've not analysed it critically enough perhaps.  Certainly by comparison to his old position he has warmed, let's leave it at that!

Hil


Hilary Sutcliffe
Director
Responsible Nano Forum
7 Adam Street
London WC2H 6AA
Tel: +44 (0)207 520 9086
Mob: 07799 625064
Twitter:  http://twitter.com/hilarysutcliffe
Email: [log in to unmask]
Blog: http://www.responsiblenanoforum.org/blog/
Website www.responsiblenanoforum.org

Everything you wanted to know about nano, but were afraid to ask - www.nanoandme.org

Take a look at Andrew Maynard's review of Nano&me on http://2020science.org/2009/09/28/so-you’re-curious-about-nanotechnology…/






On 6 Apr 2011, at 08:59, Jeff Evans wrote:

Hilary
Thanks for the reference. Though I agree that George M's article claims to reveal some worrying polemics-apparently-masquerading-as-science, it does not show to me that George M is a "convert to nuclear", at all.
Jeff

*****

Dr. Jeff Evans
Reader in Adults' Mathematical Learning
Economics & Statistics Dept.
Middlesex University Business School
London NW4 4BT, UK
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-----Original Message-----
From: psci-com: on public engagement with science [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Hilary Sutcliffe
Sent: 05 April 2011 22:13
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [PSCI-COM] suggestions needed for a 'Science Behind the Headlines' course

Agre Nuclear would be very interesting.  Don't forget to look at George Monbiot, an astonishing convert to nuclear after Japan.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/apr/05/anti-nuclear-lobby-misled-world

Hilary




Hilary Sutcliffe
Director
Responsible Nano Forum
7 Adam Street
London WC2H 6AA
Tel: +44 (0)207 520 9086
Mob: 07799 625064
Twitter:  http://twitter.com/hilarysutcliffe
Email: [log in to unmask]
Blog: http://www.responsiblenanoforum.org/blog/
Website www.responsiblenanoforum.org

Everything you wanted to know about nano, but were afraid to ask - www.nanoandme.org

Take a look at Andrew Maynard's review of Nano&me on http://2020science.org/2009/09/28/so-you're-curious-about-nanotechnology./






On 5 Apr 2011, at 21:22, Michael Kenward wrote:

Can I add to this one rare suggestion of an idea rather than people to talk to?

Japan's "nuclear meltdown" warrants discussion. (You could spend all 10 sessions on that.)

Then something like wind power - media love it, makes little economic sense.

GM food.

The risks of taking drugs versus riding horses.

Health risks from mobile phones.

There is a lot of source material for these already.

If the course is over a longish period, get them to find something early on and deal with that at the end.

Pick over the columns of the esteemed Ben Goldacre for more possibilities.

Try to find something that you expect to arise - then set them to watch it develop.

MK








-----Original Message-----
From: psci-com: on public engagement with science [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Anne Strachan
Sent: 05 April 2011 15:46
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [PSCI-COM] suggestions needed for a 'Science Behind the Headlines' course

Hi Hilary - it sounds like a fascintaing course whcih I'd like to attend.

I have run sessions for secondary schools on climate change in the news. I
have a number of participative activities they can engage in as to why the
issue is controversial. I can pass these on if you email me.

Best wishes
Anne

> Hi Hilary,
>
> Many years ago I worked at US NIH on a course for health journalists on
> understanding evidence. I know it's a somewhat different audience to yours
> but I imagine there will be a number of overlapping ideas/approaches,
> assuming health news is within the scope of your series. The course is
> still
> running and you can read about it here (including the draft agenda):
> http://medmediacourse.nih.gov/index.html.
>
> Best wishes,
>
> Emily DeVoto
>
> On Tue, Apr 5, 2011 at 2:59 PM, Jones, HM <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
>> Dear Psci-ers,
>>
>> I have (perhaps hastily) agreed to run a series of adult evening classes
>> entitled 'The Science Behind the Headlines', with the idea of taking a
>> current sciencey news story and looking carefully at the arguments and
>> assumptions that have been presented.
>>
>> I had the lofty ideals of producing a group of people who read the
>> papers
>> with a bit more of a critical eye.
>>
>> Now the sessions are approaching fast and I need to turn my very vague,
>> woolly ideas into a series of ten, 2-hour sessions!
>>
>> Any suggestions will be gratefully received!
>>
>> Many thanks,
>> Hilary M Jones
>>
>> Please note, I check my email twice per day.  If you require an
>> immediate
>> response, please contact me on the telephone number below.
>>
>> Dr Hilary M Jones
>> Training and Careers
>> Department of Biology
>> Area 15
>> PO Box 373
>> York YO10 5YW
>>
>> tel:   01904 328 740
>> fax:   01904 328 510
>> email: [log in to unmask]
>>
>> Contract researchers' careers website:
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--
Anne Strachan
Programme Development Manager
Development Education Project (Charity No 1000590)
Laurel Cottage, DEP
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0161 921 8013
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