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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.
The archives for the bibliographies are available at
http://psci-com.org.uk/pscicomlit/ along with further information about the
psci-com web site and discussion forum.
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 UKP
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]
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