PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF SCIENCE BIBLIOGRAPHY February 1999
A monthly round-up of books, reports and articles collated by the
Wellcome Trust Information Service.
BOOKS AND REPORTS
Neal, M. and Davies, C.
The corporation under siege: exposing the devices used by activists
and regulators in the non-risk society.
1998 London: Social Affairs Unit 123pp 0907631770
A treatise from the Social Affairs Unit on the abuse of science by
environmental activist groups. Chapters include: Attacks on products:
from baby milk and Brent Spar to soya and silicone; Why are modern
societies so prone to scaremongering about environmental and health
risks? Bureaucrats, greens and greenocrats: Where we are at, How can
companies fight back against regulators and agitators.
Taylor, P. J., Halfon, S. E. and Edwards, P. N. (eds.)
Changing life: genomes, ecologies, bodies, commodities.
Cultural politics: 13
1997 Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press 230pp isbn:0816630127
Essays in Changing life studies the changing sciences and technologies
of life and examines the life being changed. Topics covered include
genetic engineering and global environmental problems.
Wood-Robinson, C. et al.
Young people's understanding of the nature of genetic information in
the cells of an organism.
Working paper 3. A: The discussion task. Presented as a paper at the
European Science Education Research Association conference, Rome, 1997.
1997 Leeds: Learning in Science Research Group, University of Leeds
16pp
This research paper provides baseline information on young people's
understanding of genetics, at the end of their compulsory schooling.
Part of the wider research project 'Young People's Understanding of, and
Attitudes Towards the New Genetics.
Mitcham, C. (ed.)
Research in philosophy and technology: vol.16 - Technology and social
action.
1997 London: JAI Press 285pp isbn: 0762301090
This text concentrates on the interaction between society and technology
in a comprehensive review and overview of contemporary thought and
research writing. Includes an essay on lay knowledge and participation
in technological and environmental policy and a review of literature on
woman and technology.
Slack, J. M. W.
Egg and ego: an almost true story of life in the biology lab.
1999 New York: Springer 195pp isbn: 038798559X
A look at the nature of academic science. The 'egg' refers to the
science of developmental biology, the author's specialist area. The
'ego' refers to the vanity of the scientists themselves.
New Economics Foundation
Participation works! 21 techniques of community participation for the
21st century
1998 London: New Economics Foundation103pp isbn: 1899407170
A survey of community participation projects in Local Authority
settings.
ARTICLES
PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF SCIENCE
Public understanding of science
As questions arise about trust in science, much activity takes place
under the banner of 'the public understanding of science'. In this
article Professor John Durant, Robin Grove-White, Director for the Study
of Environmental Change, and Steve Yearly, an Economic and Social
Research Council (ESRC) PUS Fellow, examine what social science research
can contribute to a more realistic understanding of science and the
public.
Social Science Issue 41 January 1999 p.2-3
The sexiness of ideas
An article on the increasing popularity of public scientific debates by
leading academics. Popular speakers discussed include Richard Dawkins,
Steven Pinker and Susan Greenfield.
Independent on Sunday Focus 14 February 1999 p.24
PUBLIC ATTITUDES & PARTICIPATION
UK panel formed to rebuild trust in government scientific advice
The government has formed a group of experts to provide it with advice
on communicating risk, in a bid to restore public confidence in the
ability of the government to handle issues such as food safety. The
28-member group includes leading academics, journalists, heads of
non-government organisations and government officials. The panel's
formation coincides with a Consumers'Association report 'Confronting
Risk-A new Approach to Food Safety'
Nature397 11 February 1999 p.458
Watering down the citizen's right to know
The Clinton administration announced last week that it plans to put
strict limits on a law that gives the public access to government funded
research. Scientists were worried that the law would force them to turn
over copies of their lab books to any citizen who asked for them.
New Scientist 2173 13 February 1999 p.16
Sainsbury-out for a duck as food debate hots up?
An article discusses the confusion and conflicting ideas regarding GM
products, as well as the attacks against Lord Sainsbury. It also
discusses public scepticism and distrust of science and the food
industry.
Health Services Journal 109 18 February 1999 p.17
SCIENCE MUSEUMS
Museum unveils a child-free gallery
In an attempt to target single adults and older people, the At-Bristol
centre, one of the many millennium science museum projects developing
around the UK, will ban children from one of the galleries. In market
research tests most adult respondents said they disliked science centres
because of the 'noise and children'.
Independent 3 February 1999 p.10
See also 'Silence is golden at hi-tech science and wildlife venue'
Guardian 4 February 1999 p.12
SCIENCE COMMUNICATION
Scientists to 'sell' genetic tampering
'The EU wants scientists to come out of the lab and convince the public
that changing the genetic makeup of food is really OK". An EU lead
scheme will give scientists, involved in biotechnology research,
communication skills training this April to help counter negative public
perceptions of the gene technology industry.
Daily Telegraph 'Connected' 4 February 1999 p.2
Broader PhD training can benefit science and society
The scope of graduate education in some US life science Ph.D. programmes
is expanding to include transferable research, communication and public
advocacy skills that will help graduates find 'non-traditional' jobs
outside academia and perhaps, in the long run, help them pass on their
enthusiasm and knowledge to the general public.
The Scientist Vol. 13 No.3 1 February 1999 p.1 & 6
Monsanto scores an own goal
An article analyses Monsanto's public relations strategy and its failure
to reassure the public over the introduction of transgenic foods in
Europe. Monsanto, an American biotechnology company, showed a lack of
understanding of the ambivalence felt by many Europeans towards genetic
modification of foods.
Financial Times 23 February 1999 p.16
SCIENCE EDUCATION
AAAS head wants to see scientists on school boards
At a meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
(AAAS) US scientists were urged to actively promote science education.
The president of the AAAS, M. Greenwood, declared that that a
scientifically literate person needs to be on every school board to stem
the falling academic performance of US schoolchildren.
Nature 397 4 February 1999 p.374
A challenge for schools
British Nuclear Fuels have sponsored a new primary and secondary school
science investigation initiative called Science Challenge. The
initiative will be in association with the Association for Science
Education .
British Nuclear Fuel News January 1999 .7
SCIENCE AND ETHICS
Mix and match
Hiroyuki Yoshikawa, president of the independent Science Council of
Japan, has called for the integration of social scientists into research
with broad public implications such as cloning, and this is likely to be
considered by the official Council for Science and Technology in its
review of Japan's R&D policies.
Science 283 29 January 1999 p.613
Crimes against humanity
David Canter, professor of psychology at the University of Liverpool,
discusses the issue of the separation of the person and the body in
human genetics : 'Genetic scientists who violate the balance between
person and body are in the same league as serial killers'.
THES 1370 5 February 1999 p.20
SCIENCE AND MEDIA/GM FOODS
Do we care about the truth?
The Times Science Editor, Nigel Hawkes, dissects the media's response
to the current debate over the safety of genetically modified (GM) food:
'Our fears over genetically modified foods have been fuelled by a media
frenzy, and inaccurate reporting'.
Times 19 February 1999 p.39
Science by press release
In an issue that looks in depth at Genetically Modified crops, this
article investigates the recent media attention which the topic has
received, and the role which the research of Dr Arpad Pusztai has played
in influencing opinion. It also profiles individuals and institutions
involved in both sides of the argument. See also 'Opinion' and 'GM foods
served at doom temperature'
THES1372 19 February 1999 p.10-11, 20, 26-27
All the food that's fit to print
An article examines the recent moral panic over genetically modified
foods, looking particularly at the role of the UK media and actions of
environmental pressure groups.
Financial Times 20 February 1999 p.9
Scientists attack GM foods scare
An article commenting on a letter written by 19 fellows of the Royal
Society to the Daily Telegraph. The scientists express their concern
over people taking claims of scientists at "face value" and their fears
about the impact on politicians', the public's and the media's
perception of science and scientists
Daily Telegraph 23 February 1999 p.1 and p.23 See also Guardian 23
February p.19
..UK press reports come under fire
A review of the British press coverage of GM foods. Some leading British
scientists are considering lodging a complaint with the Press Complaints
Commission over what they calim were inaccurate media reports on the
risks to human health of GM foods.
Nature 397 25 February 1999 p.637
Seriously silly
'Angst about GM foods is creating a farcical double standard in our
thinking'. An editorial questions the reasons behind the British media's
focus on GM foods and our concerns for the environment.
News Scientist 2175 27 February 1999 p.3
PRESS RELEASES
Research Council doubles its money on public understanding of science
awards-EPSRC 3 February 1999
Restoring public confidence in science is vital to UK economy says
Byers, Department of Trade and Industry
21 January 1999
Wellcome Trust leads support for public understanding of science: A
£2,811,00 grant has been awarded to the British Association for the
Advancement of Science, Wellcome Trust, 18th January 1999
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All of the above items are available for reference in the Wellcome Trust
Information Service, or from the British Library, Lending Division via
your local library service. If you have any difficulties obtaining items
please contact me directly on the e-mail below.
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Karen John-Pierre
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Information Officer
Wellcome Trust
183 Euston Road
London NW1 2BE
Tel + 44 (0)171 611 8510
Fax +44 (0)171 611 8726
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