Read
All About It!
The
Translation of Science into Public Knowledge: Media Coverage of the Human Genome
Project
Ira Flatow, Host, National Public Radio's Talk of the Nation Science Friday, MODERATOR
Carol Ezzell, Editor and Staff Writer, Scientific American
Justin Gillis, The Washington Post
Boyce
Rensberger, Director, MIT Knight Science Journalism Fellowship
Richard
Saltus, Science writer, The Boston Globe
The mass media is the primary means of communicating science to the general public and consequently has substantial influence over public perception, support, and comprehension of new discoveries. The purpose of this session is to examine how the media contributes to the public understanding of the Human Genome Project (HGP), a rapid advancement in the already complex field of genetics. As the HGP will ultimately affect medicine, business, law, ethics, and culture, the communication of the HGP to the public will undoubtedly change the way we think about these aspects of human life. Special consideration will be given to the ways in which the media balances the complexities of the HGP and genomics with the appropriate scientific literacy of the general public.The goal of the panel is to better understand the role of journalism and mass media in bringing the application, merits, and ethics of the HGP project into our everyday lives.
This panel is hosted by the Social Policy Professional Interest Council at the Kennedy School of Government.
Relevant Articles
- An article describing a seminar between faculty, administrators, scientists, and journalists at the University of Michigan, in which they discussed issues in scientific reporting.
- An article from the Australian Press Council, Science Reporting, discussing research on cultures of journalists, scientists, and science journalists.
- New York Times reporter Nicholas Wade reports on the two men who represent the public and private aspects of Human Genome Project work: Francis Collins and J. Craig Venter.
Relevant Links
- Science News is a helpful tool in anyone interested in educating themselves about science, providing links to news in certain areas of science, scientific references, and allows you to search for information on different topics in science.
- MIT's mid-career program is designed primarily for experienced journalists who cover science, technology, medicine or the environment for the general public or journalists who wish to prepare themselves to cover these fields. Program director is Royce Bergenser, who will speak on the panel.
- Website of Council for the Advancement of Science Writing (CASW), a site geared towards those pursuing careers in writing about science.
- Frontiers: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Study Abroad This is the website of a journal discussing the importance of "international perspectives on science communication ethics, and is sponsored by Binghamton University, Bucknell University, Butler University, Dickinson College, Drexel University, Macalester College, Middlebury College, Pomona College, Rutgers University, Tufts University, Villanova University. It gives an interesting perspective on the responsibilities of science reporters.
- References on science journalism and science compiled from various sources in the academic journalism literature, ca. 1990.
When and Where:
12
Apri 2001, 5pm, JFK School of Government
Weiner
Auditorium, Taubman Building,
John F. School of Government, 79 JFK Street,
Cambridge, MA 02138.
Reception Following
Click here for a map.
Please RSVP for this event.Directions:
The Taubman Building is the one directly to the right of the gate as you look into the KSG courtyard. It is also the one that is closest to the Charles Hotel, so it actually looks like it is on Elliot Street, not JFK.
The
Weiner Auditorium is on the ground floor of the building -- it's the only main
room on the ground floor, so you
cannot miss it.
Links
to Other Policy Roundtable
Series
Discussions:
Consequences
of the Human Genome Project for Medicine and Society
20
February 2001
Genetic
Privacy: Legal and Ethical Frameworks
27 February 2001
Commercializing
the Human Genome: Making Money and Changing the Scientific Enterprise.
5
April 2001
Translating
Genomics into Better Medicine
10
April 2001
Are
Human Beings Born or Made? Screening of the movie GATTACA
11
April 2001
Read
All About It! The Translation of Science into Public Knowledge: Media Coverage
of the Human Genome Project
12 April 2001