controversy – hype.science

A war of perceptions on GMOs

Science communication. Black and white field crop

In a war of perceptions, how do you know which experts are providing the ‘right’ information?

From the outside it might appear that all scientists are the same. After all they have all spent a long time in higher education institutions, they all know quite technical things relevant to their field, and they all wear lab coats (right?). But ‘the scientist’ is not an identity that any one person or groupContinue reading “Arguments in science”

Everyone’s an expert on Ebola

Just a short post today to make mention of an article in the Weekend Australia Inquirer section which dealt with Ebola in a surprisingly tasteful manner (if we by pass the title ‘death and danger on the seething front line of Ebola’). Jamie Walker, associate editor of the section, reported on developments in Ebola throughContinue reading “Everyone’s an expert on Ebola”

How to prove your point about climate change

Science communication. © Robert Graves and Didier Madoc-Jones With the arc of the London Eye on the horizon, Camel Guards Parade represents the famous military and ceremonial parade ground in Whitehall in a new guise. Amid a dusty haze of heat and sand, camels have replaced horses for the Queen’s own household guard.

When we debate controversial science it’s important to be aware of the strengths and weaknesses of authority figures. Do you know your climate change experts?

Talking about experts

Science communication. Mai Le | Talk to the experts | Flickr CC

An expert is qualified to give opinions based on their in depth involvement, but it doesn’t make them the last word on a subject. It just gives their opinion more weight than someone without their specific knowledge.

Cold fusion continued | Of John Bockris and paradigms

Science communication Depiction of blue circle - cold fusion

Cold fusion is possibly the most well known fringe science of the 20th century. Will it ever enter mainstream science?

Modelling controversies: Pons and Fleischmann’s cold fusion

Fleischmann and Pons holding ‘cold fusion’ experiment In 1989, two chemists claimed that they had produced cold fusion (fusion that would occur at room temperate) through a simple experiment. The chemists, Stanley Pons and Martin Fleischmann became overnight sensations. Pons and Fleischmann had been collaborating with a research team headed by Steven E Jones fromContinue reading “Modelling controversies: Pons and Fleischmann’s cold fusion”

Exploring controversial science

If you haven’t heard of Meryl Dorey, then maybe you’ve heard of her lobby group – the Australian (Anti)Vaccination Network. This group is comprised of people who are ”very concerned about the lack of scientifically-based information on the ‘other side’ of the vaccination issue”. Meryl and her colleagues have involved themselves in controversy in New SouthContinue reading “Exploring controversial science”