December Science Pub
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The December Science Pub featured Dr. Sharon Dunwoody, Evjue-Bascom Professor and director of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Ron Seely, reporter at the Wisconsin State Journal. Mr. Seely covers both the environment and science as well as teaching science writing at UW. The topic was science journalism.

Seely started off with something I found very interesting. He described how early on in the climate change debate editors would insist on hearing from critics who did not accept the findings of mainstream science in order to present a balanced view. However, as research continued and more data was compiled, it became clear the planet is warming. With the overwhelming evidence on the side of mainstream science, editors began to present the critics' views less and less.

Seely contrasted this course of events with the longstanding battle between science and creationism. He predicited that we won't see creationism go away, even with overwhelming evidence against it, because of the added component of deeply held religious beliefs and emotions.

Much of the conversation dealt with the oft-held misconception in journalism that both sides of a debate must be presented, even if one is completely scientifically unfounded, as in the case of creationism.

Dr. Dunwoody described a very interesting story that revealed the often hidden, subtle and complex issues that involve a story in journalism.

She described a situation in a small town where a house was deemed to be haunted by ghosts. Journalists, naturally, flocked to a place they'd probably never visit otherwise and proceeded to have a field day.

Eventually someone brought in a psychic who claimed a bed that had been brought in from a dump had released the spirits into the house. If they got rid of the bed they'd be okay. Naturally the media was full of stories about the incident. Paul Hayes at the Milwaukee Journal had covered the story and returned to the community to examine its impact. Interestingly, when asked about the media coverage and which stories the residents liked the best, they cited the ones about the psychic, not because they believed in psychics, but because she had treated the town with respect.

Dr. Dunwoody explained you can't ridicule and ignore viewpoints presented in a community. It's important to write about how they shape the debate. "I cannot write about stem cells without addressing some of the issues of faith," she said. "Who am I to keep that viewpoint out of the newspaper?"

So the sixth and last Science Pub of the year went the way of that old bearded guy in the commercials trying to get us to shop just because a new year is coming. I've never understood the logic of that. But then again I don't understand a lot of things, and that's why I keep coming back to Science Pub.

See ya at the next one!
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