Comments on: Public Engagement Tools: Science Fiction and a Free Tee Shirt http://sciencecheerleader.com/2008/06/public_engagement_tools_science_fiction_and_a_free_tee_shirt/ Rooting for Teamwork in Science and Science Policy! Thu, 20 Nov 2008 21:14:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Winner and Loser | Science Cheerleader http://sciencecheerleader.com/2008/06/public_engagement_tools_science_fiction_and_a_free_tee_shirt/#comment-135 Winner and Loser | Science Cheerleader Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:53:42 +0000 http://sciencecheerleader.com/?p=53#comment-135 [...] Your Science Cheerleader T-Shirt is on its way. Bart was the first to respond to this post in which readers were challenged to read science fiction books and report back on what [...] […] Your Science Cheerleader T-Shirt is on its way. Bart was the first to respond to this post in which readers were challenged to read science fiction books and report back on what […]

]]> By: Gin http://sciencecheerleader.com/2008/06/public_engagement_tools_science_fiction_and_a_free_tee_shirt/#comment-119 Gin Tue, 17 Jun 2008 19:21:37 +0000 http://sciencecheerleader.com/?p=53#comment-119 I picked up "Little Brother" as it came highly recommended. Its not really sci-fi but I've only read a fraction of it and have already learned a ton about information technology. Cory Doctorow talks about the book, movie technology, and public understanding at the AV club as well - http://www.avclub.com/content/interview/cory_doctorow/1 I picked up “Little Brother” as it came highly recommended. Its not really sci-fi but I’ve only read a fraction of it and have already learned a ton about information technology. Cory Doctorow talks about the book, movie technology, and public understanding at the AV club as well - http://www.avclub.com/content/interview/cory_doctorow/1

]]> By: A Word From a Science Fiction Celebrity Author | Science Cheerleader http://sciencecheerleader.com/2008/06/public_engagement_tools_science_fiction_and_a_free_tee_shirt/#comment-108 A Word From a Science Fiction Celebrity Author | Science Cheerleader Fri, 13 Jun 2008 03:24:37 +0000 http://sciencecheerleader.com/?p=53#comment-108 [...] other day I reported here on a reader’s idea to consider science fiction as a serious source of science information. [...] […] other day I reported here on a reader’s idea to consider science fiction as a serious source of science information. […]

]]> By: Brian Hades http://sciencecheerleader.com/2008/06/public_engagement_tools_science_fiction_and_a_free_tee_shirt/#comment-105 Brian Hades Thu, 12 Jun 2008 00:37:50 +0000 http://sciencecheerleader.com/?p=53#comment-105 I read your recent(?) article on Science Fiction and Science. It is gratifying to know that you see and promote the idea that good science fiction contains good science. Certainly most of our book do. I read your recent(?) article on Science Fiction and Science. It is gratifying to know that you see and promote the idea that good science fiction contains good science. Certainly most of our book do.

]]> By: Bart L http://sciencecheerleader.com/2008/06/public_engagement_tools_science_fiction_and_a_free_tee_shirt/#comment-104 Bart L Wed, 11 Jun 2008 22:11:28 +0000 http://sciencecheerleader.com/?p=53#comment-104 Once upon a time, I created (but didn't give) a presentation entitled "Everything I Needed to Know About Technical Writing I Learned from Reading Science Fiction." My basic argument is that: The SF writer: --Describes an unfamiliar world --Creates challenges related to or brought about by real or imagined aspects of science --Provides solutions to those challenges based on knowledge learned in the environment The technical communicator: --Seeks to help the user understand an unfamiliar technology and solve certain problems based on the communicator’s description of that technology I used typical SF milieus--"Enormous Big Thing" stories, time travel stories, and SF detective stories--as means of teaching technical communicators mental approaches for dealing with completely new topics or technologies. I summed up with: You might not ever encounter “enormous big things,” time travel, or crimes in space, BUT… You can face large mysteries You can face documents or processes that need to be placed in chronological order...or some other order that makes sense to the user at the time You may experience “crimes” related to human-technology interactions. So... Read some science fiction today! /b My exhortation Once upon a time, I created (but didn’t give) a presentation entitled “Everything I Needed to Know About Technical Writing I Learned from Reading Science Fiction.” My basic argument is that:

The SF writer:
–Describes an unfamiliar world
–Creates challenges related to or brought about by real or imagined aspects of science
–Provides solutions to those challenges based on knowledge learned in the environment
The technical communicator:
–Seeks to help the user understand an unfamiliar technology and solve certain problems based on the communicator’s description of that technology

I used typical SF milieus–”Enormous Big Thing” stories, time travel stories, and SF detective stories–as means of teaching technical communicators mental approaches for dealing with completely new topics or technologies. I summed up with:

You might not ever encounter “enormous big things,” time travel, or crimes in space, BUT…
You can face large mysteries

You can face documents or processes that need to be placed in chronological order…or some other order that makes sense to the user at the time

You may experience “crimes” related to human-technology interactions. So…

Read some science fiction today!

/b
My exhortation

]]> By: Dede Rector http://sciencecheerleader.com/2008/06/public_engagement_tools_science_fiction_and_a_free_tee_shirt/#comment-98 Dede Rector Tue, 10 Jun 2008 20:57:51 +0000 http://sciencecheerleader.com/?p=53#comment-98 I heard DONNA SHIRLEY speak at an NSTA convention years ago, and she was quite inspiring re: growing up female in a world that wasn’t encouraging to her interests in engineering and science. She found her encouragement, inspiration, and ultimate destiny in science fiction books about Mars. In her own words, from the Academy of Achievement article about her: “When I was 12 or so I started reading science fiction. … I read Arthur C. Clarke’s The Sands of Mars, and Ray Bradbury’s Martian Chronicles, and Heinlein’s books about Mars, and just got completely fascinated with the idea of Mars and going into space and space travel.” Donna eventually managed the Mars Exploration program for JPL. I heard DONNA SHIRLEY speak at an NSTA convention years ago, and she was quite inspiring re: growing up female in a world that wasn’t encouraging to her interests in engineering and science. She found her encouragement, inspiration, and ultimate destiny in science fiction books about Mars.
In her own words, from the Academy of Achievement article about her:

“When I was 12 or so I started reading science fiction. … I read Arthur C. Clarke’s The Sands of Mars, and Ray Bradbury’s Martian Chronicles, and Heinlein’s books about Mars, and just got completely fascinated with the idea of Mars and going into space and space travel.”

Donna eventually managed the Mars Exploration program for JPL.

]]> By: Bonnie http://sciencecheerleader.com/2008/06/public_engagement_tools_science_fiction_and_a_free_tee_shirt/#comment-95 Bonnie Tue, 10 Jun 2008 15:59:56 +0000 http://sciencecheerleader.com/?p=53#comment-95 Very interesting update on the importance of science fictions as an educational tool for the public. I was especially interested in the "Galatea2.2" listing and will call Borders book store today to order it. Have you heard of the book entitled, "Don't Know Much About The Universe" by Kenneth C. Davis? It asks the kinds of questions that we may have wanted to ask back in school but didn't have the nerve to inquire about. Very interesting update on the importance of science fictions as an educational tool for the public. I was especially interested in the “Galatea2.2″ listing and will call Borders book store today to order it.

Have you heard of the book entitled, “Don’t Know Much About The Universe” by Kenneth C. Davis? It asks the kinds of questions that we may have wanted to ask back in school but didn’t have the nerve to inquire about.

]]> By: Public Engagement Tools: Science Fiction and a Free Tee Shirt http://sciencecheerleader.com/2008/06/public_engagement_tools_science_fiction_and_a_free_tee_shirt/#comment-92 Public Engagement Tools: Science Fiction and a Free Tee Shirt Mon, 09 Jun 2008 04:26:10 +0000 http://sciencecheerleader.com/?p=53#comment-92 [...] unknown wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptI say we give your idea of learning science through science fiction stories a shot and raise the stakes a bit by posing a challenge. A free Science Cheerleader t-shirt to the first size-medium person who reads at least one science … [...] […] unknown wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptI say we give your idea of learning science through science fiction stories a shot and raise the stakes a bit by posing a challenge. A free Science Cheerleader t-shirt to the first size-medium person who reads at least one science … […]

]]>