Category Archives: Science in the news

Sharing a bed is always risky for infants

Posted on March 3, 2014 by hyunbinbpark | 3 comments

Sharing beds with infants is one of the leading causes of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). SIDS is an infant unexpected death, which cannot be predicted by scientific history. The syndrome is known to have a higher risk during an infant’s sleep. SIDS was the third primary cause of infant mortality in the United States in 2011. Even though the cause of SIDS is unidentified, some factors such as bottle feeding and the mother’s intake of illegal drugs and alcohol have been known to increase the risk of the fatal syndrome. When sharing a bed with parents, the risk of SIDS increases by five fold, especially babies younger than three months.

Co-sleeping increases the risk of SIDS

photo credit:CBC

Sleeping with parents for infants is a significant risk source during the first 15 weeks even without any other danger factors such as being exposed to second hand smoking. But this risk is increased to a great extent if either parent is a smoker. Other possible suggested risks may occur when the adult accidentally roll over onto a sleeping infant and the parents’ body heat may not be the suitable temperature for the baby. On the other hand, there is a benefit of an infant sleeping with their parents. It promotes breathing control and enhances mutual awareness between parents and infants. Nonetheless, when infants are put to sleep in the same bed as their parents, there is a great amount of risk and there should be a high level of precaution. Parents or parents to be should possess a sufficient amount of knowledge regarding this syndrome.

Some researchers recommend sleeping in a crib for an infant. Photo Credit:CBC

References

Hoyert DL, Xu JQ (2012). “Deaths: Preliminary data for 2011”.National vital statistics reports. (National Center for Health Statistics) 61(6): 8.

3 Comments

Posted in Biological sciences, Issues in science, Science in the news

Tagged natural mothering, parenting, SIDS, sudden infant death syndrom

Open Access Labs?

Posted on March 3, 2014 by jfujio | 1 comment

Forget open access journals. What if you could access laboratory experiments, online and free of charge, rather than waiting for research to make it to print? This is exactly what Standford professor Lambertus Hasselink accomplished by making digital versions of real-world science experiments available to anyone using the Internet. This has coined the term “iLab“, which describes any online laboratory that enables students and educators to use real instruments to carry out experiments anywhere at any time. Unlike conventional facilities, iLabs can be shared and accessed by individuals across the world who may not otherwise have the resources to operate costly lab equipment.

(Professor Hasselink describing his iLab initiative at Standford University)

The concept of iLabs is in support of the open science movement, which seeks to integrate the online collaboration and social sharing of information to perpetuate scientific progress. Proponents of open science believe that the data of published research should be accessible to the public to promote the maximum dissemination of knowledge, and consequently, increase the efficiency of scientific development.

A great example of the success of open science initiatives is the Polymath Project, initiated by Cambridge mathematician Joseph Jackson. After hitting a roadblock in solving complex mathematical problems, Jackson decided to open all his research on a blog, The Polymath Project. Within days readers with diverse backgrounds from around the world were contributing to his work, eventually leading to several published papers under the collective pseudonym DHJ Polymath.

(A physicist turned writer, Michael Nielsen discusses the Polymath Project and how open science is revolutionizing the way we make scientific discoveries.)

The Polymath project is an example of how collective research has the potential to solve some of the most perplexing scientific conumdrums and iLabs provide the medium to allow this type of collaboration to occur. While the open science movement has made great strides in increasing the popularity of open access journals, which provide scientific articles free of charge to the public, iLabs are the next stage of knowledge sharing.

This has several advantages: for one, open labs enable students and researchers to connect to the best laboratories across the globe with the simple click of the mouse. Therefore, scientists with limited resources or funding can access the technology of well-equiped labs at little to no cost. Additionally, rather than just reading about experiments, web-based labs enable scientists to participate and/or witness the steps leading up to new discoveries. This increased transparency will improve the reproducibility of original experiments and provide more insight into the methodologies behind research findings.

Doing real science is a tough feat, which takes considerable time, energy and money to conduct. One of the greatest benefits of iLabs is the ability to spread resources and manpower globally. However, how can a scientist in Japan conduct an experiment taking place in Germany? The answer is simple: currently most research is controlled by computers to begin with, therefore digitalizing experiments is a common practice. However, most cross-cultural research is still limited to small communities of experts. Therefore, iLabs seek to expand accessibility to both amateur and professional scientists with the primary goal of increasing international collaboration projects to promote innovation and efficiency in research.

If you think about it, international collaboration has been the basis of many major scientific breakthroughs which have changed the way we view the world. For instance, global networks of scientists, with the use of online technology, have made discoveries such as the Human Genome Project, ozone layer depletion and the Large Hadron Collider (the world’s largest physics experiment) possible. Perhaps famous philosopher Aristotle was correct in saying that, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

By Jamie Fujioka

1 Comment

Posted in Issues in science, Public engagement, Science communication, Science communicators, Science in the news, Uncategorized

Tagged ilab, international science collaboration, Joseph Jackson, Lambertus Hasselink, Michael Nielsen, open data, open laboratories, open science, the Polymath Project, transparency in science

The Chinese Nuclear Apocalypse

Posted on March 2, 2014 by hlaw | 2 comments

As far as Chinese farmers in regions neighboring Beijing are considered, the nuclear apocalypse has already begun. It is becoming common knowledge that smog in many of China’s major cities is growing rapidly out of control. However, the severity of the situation is so great that the effects on China’s agriculture is resembling that of a nuclear winter. Due to the thick smog cover, plant growth has started to become drastically hindered. When seeds of the same plant were grown in a lab under artificial lighting and in a greenhouse farm, the lab-grown seeds took 20 days to grow whilst the latter group of seeds took over two months. Such light-deprived is unsustainable for growth, and a further degradation of the conditions could lead to dire consequences for an agricultural industry constituting 10% of the GDP of a nation home to over 1.6 billion people.

Wheat farmer in fog-covered field. Photo Credit: Xinhua

China is one of the world’s largest export manufacturers; 65% of its energy is fueled by coal. It is not surprising, then, that a combination of massive energy use and lack of significant government action that the conditions have become so toxic. In fact, the smog has even begun drifting to other countries, most notably settling into Japan a week ago, as well as Korea and as far as Los Angeles. Although fairly weak relative to the smog levels experienced in Beijing, the smog that reached Japan still contained 50% more airborne particulate matter than is considered safe by the World Health Organization; levels in China have reached as much as 15 times the safe level. Whilst questionable policy enforcement on its own soil is already a major issue, spreading smog may add fuel to already-tense Sino-Japanese relations, worsening the situation further.

Chinese smog as seen from satellite. Photo Credit: NASA Goddard Photo and Video

As I noted in my presentation in class several weeks ago, one of the proposed solutions in combating the smog issue was the implementation of super-sized sprinklers on top of all major skyscrapers and high-rises so as to physically wash the smog away; this is theorized to be able to reduce the amount of smog to safe levels in a matter of days or weeks. Another, more outlandish proposal involves the creation of massive, inflatable bubble-like structures to encompass parks and gardens and form a refuge for citizens seeking a reprieve from the increasingly toxic air. However, such a method would cost substantially more money, would not address the amount of smog, and, given the extreme rich/poor divide in China, potentially lead to an Elyisum-reminiscent situation.

The Eden Project in the UK, similar to the proposed structures in China. Photo Credit: Jack Two

Regardless of the path down which China decides to tackle its ever-increasing problem, it is imperative that they act swiftly. As their agriculture is more and more affected, other aspects of their economy will likely falter as well and, given the intertwined nature of the global economy, a relatively simply pollution problem may soon have worldwide consequences.

-Helon Law.

2 Comments

Posted in Issues in science, Science in the news

Tagged agriculture, Asia, China, crops, environment, industry, pollution, smog

The memories you never had…

Posted on February 24, 2014 by adilcader | Comments Off

How do our memories change the very fabric of reality? Our memories, when drawn upon, show us our experiences in the past that we can remember. We feel, without the shadow of a doubt, that these memories happened exactly the way we remembered, if we remember them vividly. Scientists at Northwestern University claim that we may be wrong about how we think that our memories work. They propose that the part of our brain responsible for memory, the hippocampus, actually rewrites the past.

The Brain (Source: Google Images)

What do our memories really comprise of? For the most part our brains remember images, particular events, how we were feeling at the time quite well, however, time of day and the weather at the time are less easy to recall, or so we think.

Editing (Source: Google Images)

When we draw upon a memory we feel like we are watching a video reel of the past, as though our brain is merely a video recorder documenting our journey through time. But in reality the hippocampus of the brain is more like a film editor and special effects team. Yes your brain often edits that trip down memory lane. The hippocampus edits the way we remember details, from memories as far back as our childhood or even short-term memories created just a few minutes ago, every time they are remembered, If you recall it you remake it. This is somewhat disconcerting… Our most cherished memories, that we hold on to and think about very often are least likely to be what actually happened. Wait, why does the brain do this to us? The answer to that question is, the brain doesn’t just change our memories at random, it actually edits the past based on present experiences. Try looking back on a bad break-up when you’re in a good mood vs when you’re in a bad mood. If you are in a bad mood you will remember that it was her fault, whereas, in a good mood you may accept that it was your fault. What does this mean? From an evolutionary perspective, our brains are made to give us everything we need to survive in the present, therefore tailoring our memories based on present specifications.

Aside from our personal strife over this subject, memory alteration have a profound impact on our justice system. Several court cases rely on the memory of eyewitnesses to rule guilty or otherwise. A jury is more likely to side with a victim who was present at a crime even though they incorrectly remember the details of the time in question. In the past memory was a given, if you saw it, it happened. Now we need more scientific intervention into our justice systems to make certain real justice is served.

Elizabeth Loftus talks about reconstructive memory:

Scott Fraser talks about our faulty justice system from first hand experience:

~ Adil Cader.

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Posted in Issues in science, Public engagement, Science communication, Science in the news, Uncategorized

Tagged Brain, Memory, Neuroscience

Airplane Colds

Posted on February 24, 2014 by clairecurran | 3 comments

Airplane riding into the sunset. Source: Flickr Commons Kuster & Wildhaber Photography

If you were to walk into my room right now you would see cold medication, chicken noodle soup and a still unpacked suitcase from the trip I took over reading break. I rode an airplane twice in the past week and now I am getting a cold. Coincidence? I think not. And neither does science. According to a study done, a person’s chances of contracting a cold on an airplane are significantly higher than when on the ground (Hocking & Foster, 2004) .

There are several reasons of why people are more susceptible to colds and respiratory diseases after flying. Surprisingly, studies have proven that lack of air circulation is not to blame (Zitter, Mazonson, Miller, Hulley, & Balmes, 2002) . A common misconception is that the air on a plane is stagnant and not fresh, therefore letting airborne bacteria sit there longer. In reality, air in an airplane is cycled through very sophisticated filters 15 to 20 times an hour. (Lang et al., 2007) This is much higher than the number of times air is cycled in homes and offices, 5 and 12 respectively. (Lang et al., 2007)

So if stagnant air isn’t the culprit, what is? Dry air is the main culprit according to one source (Hocking & Foster, 2004) . When you’re flying, the relative humidity drops to levels around 10%. This drop in relative humidity is a very big difference from on the ground levels, where for example, in Vancouver on February 24, 2014 is 96%. These low levels of humidity due to highflying elevations cause people’s first line of defense to not function properly. Mucous in the nose cannot form and bacteria can therefore pass.

Other culprits include the ratio of people to space. Since person-to-person interactions are very high (think of climbing over someone to get up to go to the bathroom), there is an even higher number of possible infectants in the air. Although airplanes are cleaned regularly, high-traffic areas that may not necessarily be cleaned thoroughly are thought to be possible bacteria rich areas. These areas include overhead bins, armrests, aisle seats and the seat-tray.

Here people can be seen touching the aisle seats. Source: Flick Commons Matt Hurst

One last reason that could contribute to getting sick after travelling is stress. A lot of people find travelling stressful and higher levels of stress can affect your immune system’s ability to ward off sickness (Glaser & Kiecolt-Glaser, 2005) .

So what can you do to ward off a cold when travelling by airplane? This article has several great suggestions. The most important being staying hydrated and keeping your hands clean. Next time I travel by plane, I will definitely be taking better advantage of the free beverages offered inflight.

~Claire Curran

References

Glaser, R., & Kiecolt-Glaser, J. (2005). Science and society – stress-induced immune dysfunction: Implications for health. NATURE REVIEWS IMMUNOLOGY, 5(3), 243-251.

Hocking, M. B., & Foster, H. D. (2004). Common cold transmission in commercial aircraft: Industry and passenger implications. Journal of Environmental Health Research, 3(1), 7-12.

Lang, M., Amit, M., Cummings, C., Feldman, M., Ponti, M., Grabowski, J., & Community Paediat Comm. (2007). Air travel and children’s health issues. PAEDIATRICS & CHILD HEALTH, 12(1), 45-50.

Zitter, J. N., Mazonson, P. D., Miller, D. P., Hulley, S. B., & Balmes, J. R. (2002). Aircraft cabin air recirculation and symptoms of the common cold. JAMA : The Journal of the American Medical Association, 288(4), 483-486.

3 Comments

Posted in Science in the news, Uncategorized

Tagged air, Airplanes, bacteria, cold, flying, humidity, sickness

A Speedbump on the Road to Singularity

Posted on February 10, 2014 by alenas | Comments Off

From the time of their humble origins as slow, hole-punching behemoths, few could have predicted that computers would completely transform our modern age so profoundly. In more recent times, as computing power keeps increasing year by year, many have begun to seriously consider the possibility that soon the computer may outperform the human mind in almost all tasks, not simply in playing chess or conducting assembly lines.

A prominent crusader of these ideas, Ray Kurzweil, goes so far as to claim that one day in the not-so-distant future, we may download the contents of our minds: memories, personality, emotions and preferences into a computer. In effect we would reach immortality by merging with a machine. This rather simplistic view is part of the concept of the technological singularity, the notion that computers will become increasingly more powerful and smarter until a point in time when they will radically change the way humans live and function in the world.

To predict that downloading yourself to a computer will be possible, we’d have to rely on many broad assumptions about the human mind. One such assumption we’d need to make is already used as the starting point of modern neuroscience; that our minds, our internal experience of the world, and the rest of the function of the brain is the total of all neural activity.

Scientists know that the brain uses its cells, specifically the connections between neurons, to conduct simple calculations. Basically, this explains consciousness as the output of a biological computer, which uses the principles similar to those in mathematics to create every thought, feeling, insight and perception that we have ever had. Sounds simple? Hardly. While the bare principles are easy to understand, the sheer immensity and complexity of the brain, is well, massive. The current estimate on the raw computing power is that it’s the equivalent of around 10 000 000 000 000 000 operations per second.

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Here is where the unlikely duo of Stuart Hameroff, an anesthesiologist, and Sir Roger Penrose, a mathematical physicist, call singularians on their fault. They criticize their ultra-reductionist view based on their Orch OR theory of consciousness. In part, they have proposed that not only does the brain act as a classical computer (the kind that uses bits; ones and zeros), it also has a more fundamental, sub-cellular level found in the microtubule cytoskeleton, that uses quantum effects to do a completely different kind of computation, incompatible with today’s computing knowledge.

So not only does the brain compute with its 10 000 000 000 000 000 operations per second, each neuron’s microtubules may be able to compute at 100 trillion operations per second, giving the brain a grand total of 1 000 000 000 000 000 000 trillion operations per second. That’s twenty-seven zero’s! For comparison, the K computer, one of the world’s fastest, can only compute 10 000 trillion calculations per second.

If the Orch OR theory proves to be correct, then the singularity is still just a dim blip on our radar, not the impeding revolution that some of its proponents suggest. Of course that’s assuming that we can program these incredibly fast computers to be smart. After all, having enough processing power on its own will not spontaneously give us artificial intelligence. That will be a job for the neuroscientists and programmers of the distant future.

Written and published by Alena Safina

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Posted in Biological sciences, Science in the news

Tagged Computing, Consciousness, Orch OR theory, Singularity

Calling All Germs

Posted on February 10, 2014 by hucin | 4 comments

A toilet. Source.

Which harbors more bacteria: the sole of your shoe, a toilet seat, or your cell phone?

The answer to that is most likely– your cell phone.

Yes, that is correct: researchers have found that our phones carry an average of 10 times as many bacteria as a toilet seat. This may come quite a surprise at first, but once you really think about it, actually seems highly anticipated.

From calling, texting, Tweeting, or playing Flappy Bird, cell phones have become central to our social lives, professions, and constant need for entertainment. As a result, many of us bring our phones everywhere we go and place them on kitchen counters, dinner tables, gym mats, and public washroom toilet paper dispensers and sinks, all in a single day. Bacteria present on these surfaces then get transmitted onto the phone. The level of bacterial contamination is exacerbated when phones are passed between people, as another set of germs are passed on to the phone. The health concerns don’t end here though; our phones don’t just collect bacteria, they breed them as well. Due to the heat they generate, and the darkness of our pockets and handbags, cell phones seem to be the ideal breeding ground for bacteria.

Cell phones. Source.

What is it specifically about cell phones and toilet seats that instigates such a large difference in bacterial count? Toilets are cleaned frequently, as people associate washrooms with germs, while cell phones, on the other hand, are often left out of the cleaning routine, as people are typically hesitant about cleaning electronic devices. In addition, cellular devices also come into contact with more parts of our body and a wider range of bacteria than toilet seats.

E. coli at 10,000X magnification. Source.

A number of swab tests show that cell phones have frequently been found to be contaminated with Escherichia coli (E. coli), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and coliform. Although there currently are no scientific studies suggesting that bacterial infections can be directly contracted from cell phones, we should nonetheless still take precautionary measures to minimize health risks such as vomiting, fever, and diarrhea, which are associated with grimy cell phones.

Cell phones can be sanitized using a soft antibacterial wipe. Source.

What can you do to clean your device?Firstly, don’t rely on your shirt sleeve– use a soft antibacterial wipe instead. As well, be sure to wash your hands with soap, as researchers at the University of London found that one in six cell phones is contaminated with some sort of fecal matter. Cell phone sanitizing devices such as PhoneSoap, which simultaneously charges and sanitizes your cell phone using UV-C light, have also been developed. Cell phones have not only revolutionized the way the world communicates, but the spread of germs as well; so remember that a clean phone benefits both you and everyone else.

When was the last time you sanitized your cell phone?

References: Live Science, FOX 7 Austin, CBS News, The Telegraph.

– Cindy Hu

4 Comments

Posted in Biological sciences, Issues in science, Public engagement, Science communication, Science in the news

Tagged bacteria, cell phones, human health, hygiene

Marius the Giraffe: In Loving Memory

Posted on February 10, 2014 by dansterr3 | 6 comments

This past weekend, Marius, a healthy two-year old giraffe was shot, dissected, and fed to the lions at the Copenhagen Zoo in Denmark. A horrendous act for what? The zoo claimed it was protecting the breeding program associated with the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA). The zoo stated their actions were merited as this giraffe had genes too similar of the herd. Their reasoning was that it would increase the negative effects of inbreeding. Could the zoo or EAZA have done something to prevent the slaughtering of this perfectly healthy giraffe?

Marius the Giraffe (Imgur: hdow)

Breeding programs have been implemented in zoos world wide with a common goal to preserve global biodiversity especially for endangered or rare species. An important consideration is the genetic composition of the animals that are in captivity. If the animals are too genetically similar, inbreeding can occur and negative effects can become prominent in the population. Just like with humans, inbreeding, or incest, happens when you conceive a child with a close relative such as your cousin or your sibling. The child may have an increased mortality rate and a higher rate of being disabled. Mother nature has a way of making sure this rarely happens in the wild.

This phenomenon is called “inbreeding depression”. Offspring are more susceptible to be born with diseases and mutations resulting in decreased fitness. Fitness refers to the ability of the organism to survive and successfully produce healthy offspring. The most recent research on inbreeding depression in mammals discovered that it significantly impacts birth weight, survival, and reproduction.

Giraffes in the wild (Wikipedia)

Breeding programs, such as the one implemented by EAZA, aim to retain reproductive fitness while increasing genetic diversity, and overall growing the population. This means, they must have measures that prevent animals from becoming too genetically compromised. In the case at the Copenhagen Zoo, their standard operating procedures are elimination by death.

CNN reports on Copenhagen Zoo’s decisions

Many other zoos were willing to pay to take the giraffe to prevent the slaughtering. Even a petition with 20,000 signatures was not enough to stop this event from happening. EAZA’s rules and regulations do not allow other zoos to take animals that aren’t a part of their breeding program. Perhaps it is time for a review of this archaic practice.

Dissection of Marius (Imgur: Snailoid)

From an ecologist’s perspective, other options should have been considered. Why not look into cross-continent breeding programs? It would increase genetic diversity with a lower chance of inbreeding while expanding the gene pool. However, shipping animals across continents is expensive and may not be a viable option. Retrieving gametes, sperm and ova, from another population would also increase genetic diversity within that population, with a potential lower cost.

The carnage of Marius the giraffe seemed rash and other options could have been considered. What was even more disturbing was how they let the children watch the so-called educational portion of their program.

Something needs to change before another Marius fiasco ensues.

Written by Danielle Marcoux

Other sources:

6 Comments

Posted in Biological sciences, Issues in science, Science communication, Science in the news

Tagged Animal, Biology, Breeding, Captive, dissection, Europe, Giraffe, Humane, Inbreeding, Regulations, reproduction, Zoo

Move over, 3D Movies. 3D Printing is the New Trend.

Posted on February 10, 2014 by jchen93 | 3 comments

Do you remember the quote “You wouldn’t download a car”? It was the message that accompanied the dark, serious commercial on piracy. But with the wonders of technology, something like that is actually possible as silly as that sounds. How? 3D printing.

3D printing has been around since the 1980’s but has really started to take off more recently in the 2010’s due to a reduction in price and availability of the 3D printer. Although the 3D printer shares its name with the commonly used 2D computer printer, they are fundamentally quite different as the 3D printer prints out material in layers, one over another. Due to the versatility of the 3D printer, science has been utilizing 3D printers in a wide variety of ways, and this progressive stance has made an impact on many fields.

Regular 3D Printer (Photo by: Eva Wolf, Source: WikimediaCommons)

One example of science’s venture into 3D printer comes in the form of medical science, as 3D printer allows for the creation of things like the human liver. Obviously, the 3D printer doesn’t just magically make a kidney appear out of nowhere, so how does it do it? The San Diego Company, Organovo has been making a great deal of progress on it, and they are doing this by printing out a mass of human cells which can be thought of as the ink. These human cells cluster to form structures, before adding another layer. These layers eventually fuse to form the 3D shape of the organ. Although that description is a bit simpler than what actually happens, it gives a brief idea of how it is done.

Another way science has been utilizing 3D printers is in a field like marine-ecology. 3D printers are capable of recreating coral reef that can be placed into damaged marine ecosystems. These artificial coral reefs provide a source of habitat and helps improves the health of marine life there. This is exactly what is happening in the region of the Persian Gulf, an area where overfishing has been negatively impacting the ecosystem there. The use of artificial reef is bringing back balance back into the area.

Coral Reef (Photo by: Nick Hobgood Source: WikimediaCommons)

Those two examples give just a quick glimpse of what 3D printing can do and although it isn’t too widespread at the moment due to the price and the tech of the 3D printer. Over time, as price decreases and tech goes up, 3-D printing will continue to make its mark on science.

– Jeffrey Chen

3 Comments

Posted in Biological sciences, Issues in science, Science in the news

Tagged 3D Printing, Marine Biology, technology

Science and Media Mediator

Posted on February 10, 2014 by Maria Bernard | 2 comments

When a new, life-changing scientific discovery is made it is only natural that the media looks to get its hands on the finding and make it into a story. Often, the media and science are seen as two separate identities, butting heads and having conflicting interests. There are no doubt those scientists that worry about the integrity of their work when it is publicized, and those journalists that feel they have to delve through copious amounts of confusing detail in order to create their newsworthy story.

However, there are also positive attitudes that do not see the media and science as separate identities, and take the initiative to dissolve the barrier between the two. There is a perhaps overlooked and under-mentioned initiative being taken that looks to maintain the interests of both the media and scientists when communicating science to the general public. This initiative, started up in 2008 is called the Science Media Centre of Canada (SMCC).

Helping the journalists:

The SMCC, located in Ottawa, is devoted to helping journalists communicate science-related news more accurately. It provides journalists with little expertise on scientific subject they are covering with the resources to gain more information about it. Along with office positions, the SMCC team is made up of two fundamental units, the Research Advisory Panel, and the Editorial Advisory Committee. The Research Advisory Panel is made up of 20 specialists in a wide range of fields including biomedical sciences, ocean sciences, physics, etc. This panel helps ensure that journalists report information that maintains scientific accuracy. The Editorial Advisory Committee is composed of seven experienced reporters who instruct journalists on maintaining journalistic integrity and objectivity in their work.

Sometimes journalist don’t interpret science exactly right… Image: Flickr Commons. Artist: Jodiepedia.

On the SMCC website, after journalists register with the Centre, they are then contacted by members of the SMCC team who provide them with assistance in the areas needed. Not only are journalists able to expand their knowledge through direct contact with an expert, but there is also a tab on the website labeled “Backgrounders” where a variety of science-related news topics are listed. Journalists are able to review background information that should “help decipher issues with complexity or differing scientific points of view.”

Helping the scientists:

The SMCC provides scientists with a vast amount of media tips such as “provide your contact information, including after hours, so the reporter can reach you with a last-minute question or for fact-checking”. These tips provide scientists with advice on how to speak understandably to the media, while still clearly portraying the main message of their work. The SMCC also offers workshops for scientists on the norms and conventions of the journalism world.

Dissolved barrier, better science communication:

The SMCC helps dissolve the barrier between the media and science by helping both journalists and scientists understand one another and one another’s work. By fuelling resources that both help journalists accurately communicate the research scientists put forth, and help scientists communicate with the media, the SMCC keeps the interests of everyone at heart. The result of this positive, mediating initiative is more accurate and precise scientific information is portrayed to the masses. Essentially, everyone benefits, the scientists, the journalists, and the general public.

-Maria Bernard

2 Comments

Posted in Public engagement, Science communication, Science communicators, Science in the news

Tagged journalists, media, press, publications, science media centre, Science Media Centre of Canada, science news, scientific discovery, scientists

Category Archives: Science in the news

Sharing a bed is always risky for infants

Open Access Labs?

The Chinese Nuclear Apocalypse

The memories you never had…

Airplane Colds

A Speedbump on the Road to Singularity

Calling All Germs

Marius the Giraffe: In Loving Memory

Move over, 3D Movies. 3D Printing is the New Trend.

Science and Media Mediator

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