Bulletin of the American Physical Society
APS April Meeting 2016
Volume 61, Number 6
Saturday–Tuesday, April 16–19, 2016; Salt Lake City, Utah
Session J7: Politicizing Science - Benefits and CostsInvited Session Undergraduate Students
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Sponsoring Units: FPS Room: 150G |
Sunday, April 17, 2016 10:45AM - 11:21AM |
J7.00001: They Won't Accept the What of Science If They Don't Get the Why and How Invited Speaker: Rush Holt Denial of evidence by policy makers on controversial issues, substituting ideology for research-based findings, and suspicion of scientists of bias or even conspiracy are all enormously distasteful and sometimes bewildering to scientists. Whatever the subject-- climate change, nuclear power, or GMO's-- scientists should understand that the problems originate, not with demagogic or misguided politicians, but rather with millions of Americans who do not appreciate the essence of science and have a poor understanding of the basic nature and procedures of science. The public appreciation of science shows signs of further erosion, suggesting that the problems may get even worse in the future. Scientists do little to help the problem by insistently trying to teach the specifics of the controversial subjects, however clearly and logically, when the public does not even understand how science works. [Preview Abstract] |
Sunday, April 17, 2016 11:21AM - 11:57AM |
J7.00002: Nuclear Technology, Global Warming, and the Politicization of Science Invited Speaker: Spencer Weart Since the mid 20th century physical scientists have engaged in two fierce public debates on issues that posed existential risks to modern society: nuclear weapons and global warming. The two overlapped with a third major debate over the deployment of nuclear power reactors. Each controversy included technical disagreements raised by a minority among the scientists themselves. Despite efforts to deal with the issues objectively, the scientists became entangled in left vs. right political polarization. All these debates, but particularly the one over climate change, resulted in a deterioration of public faith in the objectivity and integrity of scientists. [Preview Abstract] |
Sunday, April 17, 2016 11:57AM - 12:33PM |
J7.00003: Leo Szilard Lecturship Award: How can physicists help the public make better decisions about science and technology? Invited Speaker: Joel Primack For more than 40 years the APS has worked to improve governmental decision-making, mainly through the Congressional Science and Technology Fellowship program and through occasional studies of important science and technology issues. How productive have these been? How can the APS and other professional societies more effectively combat anti-science propaganda and help the public develop better-informed views about science and technology? How can individual scientists communicate scientific concepts in a more understandable and engaging way? How can we encourage young scientists and students to participate in creating a scientifically responsible future? [Preview Abstract] |
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