Science Cheerleader

Well, it appears this blog is certainly spinning some wheels and getting folks talking about your potential. After more than 100 years, the door is being pushed open, presenting opportunities for you to do science, ask questions and voice opinions on critical matters of science policy. Will you accept this invitation or let the door slam shut again?

The experts who study science history, policy, and sociology are talking about you. Check it out!

Cheers!

Check out Paul Hoffman’s blog. Paul, my friend and former boss at Discover Magazine (when it was owned by Disney) is a master at deducing complex scientific material and cerebral challenges into terms I can understand. He did this as the editor in chief at Discover, then as the President of Encyclopedia Britannica and more recently as the author of The King’s Gambit: A Son, a Father, and the World’s Most Dangerous Game.

My book club discussed this book recently and we spent a good ten minutes dissecting the meaning of the cover alone. Hard to imagine a book with chess on the cover could be a page-turner, but it is. And I’m not just saying that because Paul just blogged about me here! 

Cheers!

Darlene

It’s been quite a week for science. Some of the greatest minds in science shared their visions and concerns for the future of mankind at the World Science Summit yesterday at Columbia University in NY.

(I squirreled my way into the “invitation only” event and managed to insert myself into fascinating conversations: “Quasors and String Theory, uh, yeah, I [pause] got it,  but how can we provide more meaningful opportunities for citizens to voice their opinions, concerns, hopes and fears about science?” More on that wild experience, later!)

After NYC Mayor Bloomberg opened the Summit (did anyone know he majored in engineering in college?), actor Alan Alda took the stage to help announce the winners of the $1 million Kavli Prize. Here’s the report I wrote for Discover Magazine. 

All of that took place in just the first hour of the day-long Summit. Stay tuned for more.

Cheers!

…and, together, we kick off the World Science Festival, this morning at Columbia University during a world-class Science Summit. Really, no joke! I’m included among the “125 leaders from science, business, government, media, and academia who will explore how today’s scientific discoveries will shape tomorrow.” (Columbia’s homepage news.)

(I did have to squirrel my way into this invitation. Finally, the old cheerleading uniform came in handy.)

“The 21st century will be shaped by science,” said Brian Greene, co-founder of the World Science Festival and professor of physics and mathematics at Columbia University. “From the enormous challenges we face and opportunities we have available, science will be the critical driver. To make informed decisions, we need a general public that is not put off by science; rather, the public needs to be excited by science and prepared to engage with its implications for the future.”

The Festival seeks to transform the public perception of science by producing high caliber, entertaining and thought-provoking programs–for five days throughout New York City–that make science exciting, accessible, compelling, and inspirational. That’s Brian’s stated goal for the World Science Festival. A terrific goal and one we should all support.  

I hope I have an opportunity to share some thoughts with Brian and the 123 other leaders in the room. Engaging the public in science is critical and helps us make better decisions, particularly when it comes to science policy decisions. But we need authentic opportunities to inject our values and opinions into important discussions of science and science policy.  Let the public, us, displace the lobbyists. Scientists and policy makers can and should do more to trust the public’s desire and capacity to participate in real science activities and discussions. I’ll bring the empirical data with me just in case they don’t believe me.

Speaking of trust, if they haven’t already yanked the mic from my hands, I might suggest that we need more reasons to trust science in spite of the recent abuses by government and industry–and some scientists–covered in this book which I’ve read, and this new one I have yet to read, among many other publications. Depressing stuff, really.

Let’s move back to the happier, more optimistic approach, shall we? The World Science Festival!

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I just watched the movie Iron Man, for the second time. Entertaining, albeit sobering, reminder that our own nation’s superior advances in technology–in this case, weapons technology–can be hijacked by friends or foes and, eventually, used against us. Keeping our weapons out of enemy hands is a problem for the Department of Defense to worry about. I’ve got my own “technology trust issues” I’d like to vent about.

Let me start with my  touch screen cell phone. Formerly known as my trusted companion. Keeper of my diary, confider of private discussions. My personal assistant for goodness sake. For no good reason, “it” has turned against me. Randomly dialing people, exposing my conversations for all the world to listen in on. Sneaky thing does this when I least expect it. Like when I’m damning to hell the speeding cab driver, talking to myself, or whispering my sins to Father Mark in the confessional box. 

My phone has more commands and function buttons than my ridiculously over-engineered cable TV remote control. Still I have yet to locate what must be a simple “lock” or “please do not call anyone without my permission” request. Working on it.

Technological applications have the ability to betray insects, too, as it turns out.  Even the smartest of bugs: cockroaches. This New ScientistTech article explains how a matchbox-sized robot can “infiltrate a pack of cockroaches and influence their collective behavior.” The robot can “persuade a group of cockroaches to venture out into the light despite their normal preference for the dark, for example.” 

(Note to self: borrow that little robot to march the menacing mice out of my house and into an open flame.)
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The National Museum of Education wants to hear from your creative little, well, you.

 If your child has “an idea for a better way of doing something,” then fill out this super-simple form and send it in. Each month, the organizers give away $100 to a winning entry. Be sure to check out the plethora of other cools programs designed and administered by this group. Like this contest where the artwork of  artistic kids will be exhibited at the Vatican. Deadline for entries is next week so hurry!

(I see I am still listed as a Board member. Honored but a little ashamed because I’ve been M.I.A. for a few years…shhh!). 

Cheers!

Know of any great Homeland Security programs or technologies? Considering forwarding this on or contacting me with recommendations. I am soliciting nominations on behalf of the Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation , an independent federal government agency, for its $25,000 Homeland Security Award. Candidates must be U.S. citizens and the deadline for submitting a nomination is Friday, May 23.

Hey, with $25,000 at stake, it’s worth the little bit of time it takes to submit the online nomination.

Good luck!

The X2 Project, sponsored by the National Academies and the Department of Defense.  An opportunity to play with the big boys!

The creators of the X2 Project, a collaborative forecasting experiment, understand the future is shaped by all of us. The old model–small groups of rocket scientists, CEOs and politicians determining our future–is crumbling. That’s a good thing because that model eroded public trust and contributed to the current, incestuous state-of-affairs when it comes to science policy (and science education, one could argue).

Get to the good stuff, you say? Ok! 

I asked X2 Project’s founder, Alex Soojung-Kim Pang, to give us the low-down on this wild experiment. Here are highlights of our chat. Note: You’ve got to log on and participate! I did. Such fun and I’ve earned three points so far. Log on, you’ll understand. (more…)

It’s Sunday, May 11th (Happy Mother’s Day!) and I am very excited because my opinion piece on the proposed presidential science debate (”Science Debate 2008“) was just published in the Philadelphia Inquirer and already picked up by the University of Pennsylvania’s Newsweek.com feed and the National Basketball Association’s newsfeed.

Here’s the published version. Posted in its entirety below.   Let me know what you think. I’d like your opinions on my opinions.  Cheers!

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Recently, I came across the Technically Speaking website, which takes a look at the benefits and challenges of developing a more tech savvy citizenry. The website is a project of the National Academy of Engineering whose mission it is to “promote the technological welfare of the nation by marshaling the knowledge and insights of eminent members of the engineering profession.”

I invited Greg Pearson, a senior program officer at the National Academy of Engineering, to share his insights about public engagement in science and technology. He agreed. (Thank you, Greg!) So today, I present to you the Science Cheerleader’s very first exclusive–hooray!  

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