PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF SCIENCE BIBLIOGRAPHY
March 1999
A monthly round-up of books reports and articles collated by the
Wellcome Trust Information Service. All of these are available for
reference in the Wellcome Trust Information Service.
BOOKS AND REPORTS
Capper, R. Science and technology interest, understanding and attitudes
in the New Zealand community. A report prepared for the Ministry of
Research, Science and Technology. Report No.70. Wellington: Ministry of
Research, Science and Technology, 1998 49pp
A survey carried and prepared by Phillip Capper and Tony Bullard of
Web Research to assess public interest and attitudes towards science
and technology in New Zealand.
Available on the WWW at http://www.morst.govt.nz/pubs/interest/index.htm
Capper, R. Science technology attitudes and performances: a brief
literature review. A report prepared for the Ministry of Research,
Science and Technology. Report No.69. Wellington: Ministry of Research,
Science and Technology ,1998 16pp
A literature review on public attitudes towards science and scientific
literacy in New Zealand used in the survey Science and technology
interest, understanding and attitudes in the New Zealand community.
Available on the WWW at
http://www.morst.govt.nz/pubs/attitudes/index.htm
CM Research (NZ)
Research for developing a public information campaign. A report prepared
for the Ministry of Research, Science and Technology. Report No.71.
Wellington: Ministry of Research, Science and Technology, 1998, 87pp
isbn: 0478061331
This report presents the findings of research conducted to assist the
New Zealand government's development of a public science information
programme. Available on the WWW at
http://www.morst.govt.nz/pubs/infocamp/cmresearch/index.htm
Macnaghten, P et al. Public perceptions and sustainability in
Lancashire: indicators, institutions, participation. Preston: Lancashire
County Planning 1995 96pp isbn: 090228927
This report by the Centre for Environmental Change, University of
Lancaster looks at public attitudes towards environmental change in a
small community.
Mazlish, B. The uncertain sciences. New Haven: Yale University Press
1998 328pp
isbn: 0300074778
An analysis of the achievements, failings and possibilities of the human
sciences.
Articles- Public attitudes to and participation in science
Cloning around
An article critically reviews 'Public perspectives on human cloning', a
recent report on public attitudes towards human cloning by the Wellcome
Trust's Medicine in Society programme.
Progress in reproduction Volume 3 Issue 1 March 1999 p. 11
What about an all science 'Question Time' given over to genetically
modified foods?
Susan Greenfield, a director of the Royal Institution, argues that
Question Time and its radio equivalent, Any Questions, are both the
perfect formats for public debates on topical scientific controversies
such as GM foods.
Independent Education 25 March 1999 p.2
Pill wards of sexual diseases, says pupils
More than a quarter of secondary school children believe taking the pill
will protect them from sexually-transmitted diseases, according to a HEA
research findings. The survey on young people's attitudes to health
where carried out as part of a WHO study of young people and health
attitudes
TES 12 March 1999 p.1
Genes at the airport
Mairi Levitt, research fellow in the Centre for Professional Ethics,
University of Manchester writes on the 'Gene Shop'; Gene Shop was an
exercise in public communication of genetic science and was open to all
at Manchester Airport 1997-1998.
Progress in reproduction Volume 3 Issue 1 March 1999 p.6-7
Drawn to men in white coats
More than 80% of girls aged 11 draw scientists as males, according to
research by Professor Douglas Newton of The University of Newcastle and
Dr. Lynn Newton of Durham University. 'The draw a scientist test: what
do young people think of science and scientists' appears in the spring
edition of Topic, the education resource pack produced by the National
Foundation for Educational Research.
TES 12 March 1999 p.12
Hisschemoller M. and Midden, C.H.J.
Improving the usability of research on the public perception of science
and technology for policy making.
Studies on public reactions to science and technology may help policy
makers who seek to involve the public in decision making on issues of
technological or scientific complexity. The paper seeks to understand
how research on public reactions to science and technology can be used
and attempts to answer the following questions: What is good quality
research? Which research offers data that are most useful to decision
makers.
Public Understanding of Science Vol.8 No.1 January 1999 p.17-33
Frewer, L et al
Reactions to information about genetic engineering: impact of source
characteristics, perceived personal relevance, and persuasiveness.
There is a need to develop effective communications strategies with the
public about risks and benefits of applied genetic engineering. The
Elaboration Likelihood Model was used to systematically investigate the
impact of source factors (trust) and the perceived personal relevance of
information, including the persuasiveness of the information, on
attitudes towards genetic engineering.
Public Understanding of Science Vol.8 No.1 January 1999 p.35-50
Evans, W.
Public Understanding of Science Bibliography
A bibliography or recent scholarly publications on 1) public attitudes
regarding science and technology, (2) the role of the mass and
interactive media in science health and risk communication, and (3)
science and technology museums, zoos and natural history centers.
Public Understanding of Science 8 1999 71-74
Articles-Public understanding of science
Baffled by bad science
An article suggesting that the recent row over genetically modified
foods has exposed scientific ignorance amongst journalists and public
alike. Despite the efforts of groups such as COPUS (Committee for the
Public Understanding of Science), the public shows little understanding
of risk assessment and demands scientific certainties to unanswered
questions. Commentators Dame Bridget Ogilvie and Professor Richard
Dawkins view the narrow British education system as part of the problem.
Independent Education 4 March 1999 p.11
Economic success, science and the public
Tom Inch, secretary general of the Royal Society of Chemistry, reflects
on the effectiveness of SET99 and other public understanding of science
initiatives, focusing particularly on chemistry. Activities are
evaluated according to the main action points arising from the 1985
Bodmer report into 'Public Understanding of Science'.
Chemistry in Britain March 1999 p.36-39
....and how our scientists can narrow the gap
Steve Jones writes on the UK PUS movement, it's major achievements, such
as innovative community-based science events funded by the Royal
Society/BA's Millennium Awards and argues that the recent press coverage
on GM foods has been 'the biggest disaster for the national
understanding of science in the past decade'.
Daily Telegraph 10 March 1999 p.14
Will this sectarian war of arts and sciences ever end?
Jonathan Rée writes on science, arts and culture, subjects most famously
examined by C.P.Snow in his 1959 'Two Cultures' lecture. Rée discusses
the early reactions to the lecture, the increased cultural significance
of science over the last forty years and the back-lash against 'cultural
studies of science' in scientific communities today.
Independent Week-end Review 13 March 1999 p.27
Scientific players finally beat off the gents
Nigella Lawson contributes to the 'Two Cultures' debate recently revived
in a Radio Four broadcast. Despite old snobberies against science
amongst artists and writers, Lawson concludes that 'science is sexy..it
is now scientists who look down on the non-scientists'.
Observer 21 March 1999 p.30
Articles-Science communication
Boffin meets punter
An article discusses Media Science, a new undergraduate science
communication course from Sheffield Hallam University. The course,
co-ordinated by Dr. John Haigh, aims to 'produce a new hybrid species of
graduates possessing media and science skills'.
Guardian Higher 23 March 1999 p.iv
Articles-Science & ethics
Nothing to lose, everything to gain
After the recent publication of "Biotechnology and you' by the patients
pressure group Seriously Ill for Medical Research (SIMR), this article
discusses the importance of patient groups in defending biotechnology
research, which may save their lives, against more vocal animal rights
activists.
Biomedical News (A Laboratory News Supplement) March 1999 p.B5
WHO steps closer to its responsibilities
Developments in biomedical research give rise to ethical dilemmas and
public controversy around the world. An editorial and an article argue
that a draft publication of bioethical guidelines by the WHO reflects
the need to strengthen its role in helping governments and others
address the issues.
Nature 398 18 March 1999 p.175,179
Articles-Science & media
Food fight
Nineteen fellows of The Royal Society have sent letters to The Daily
Telegraph and The Guardian to argue the case for peer review of
scientific claims rather than unsubstantiated allegations that are
reproduced in the mass media. The Royal Society is convening an expert
panel to review the results of Arpad Pusztai involving
genetically-modified food.
Science 283 26 February 1999 p.1237
We're not that barmy, plead scientists
The Sloan Foundation, a US-based charity which aims to increase public
awareness of science, has launched a £1.25 million campaign to get the
film and television industry to change its negative portrayal and image
of 'mad scientists', an article reports.
Daily Telegraph Connected 4 March 1999 p.4-5
A media uncertainty principle
An editorial on the need for scientists to work more closely with the
press in order to make scientific reporting both accurate and
newsworthy. Existing stories often change the science by drawing
attention to it.
Science 283 5 March 1999 p.1453
Ritual abuse, hot air and missed opportunities
An essay by author and film-maker Michael Crichton on the portrayal of
science in the cinema. He claims that it is inevitably a caricature but
that this is unimportant to the public understanding of science: what
matters is that real scientists should explain their work to the public
and be able to answer reporters' questions.
Science 283 5 March 1999 p.1461-3 See also Independent 8 March 1999 p.4
Could you be suffering from clipophilia?
An article on the effects of health stories and reporting of 'medical
breakthroughs' in the press. Most GP's regard media coverage of medical
issues as a mixed blessing and increasingly need to deal with patients
armed with 'redundant' newspaper clippings.
Sunday Business 7 March 1999 p.25
Perfection on television
An article critically reviews 'Perfect babies' a recent series on
reproductive medicine broadcast on Channel 5.
Progress in reproduction Volume 3 Issue 1 March 1999 p.10
Weingart and P.Pansegrau
Reputation in science and prominence in the media: the Goldhagen debate
This paper argues that in media reporting of science, media prominence
competes with scientific reputation. That is, in certain cases the media
compete with science, both in terms of knowledge and claims and in terms
of the internal mechanisms of self direction.
Public Understanding of Science Vol.8 No.1 January 1999 p.1-16
Karen John-Pierre
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