"Science and journalism - friend or foe?" gathered at the
British Council's genuine friends of knowledge. They represent many
fields including media, IT, architecture, education, psychology,
theology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, engineering, linguistics
and climate. The story of the event continues now with the second
part, and this precedes the one dedicated to few of the email
questions and aspects addressed by friends of the Science
Newspaper.
Unlike journalists, science communicators have direct contact
with the public. They can be for example researchers, educators,
managers or teachers. Communication of science is a field with many
facets and includes popularization of science, practical
activities, PR and even science marketing.
Science, as well as journalism, is based on questions and
answers. People from the two sides - science and journalism - speak
about big questions that expect right answers. Both have in common
an audience to whom they are addressing. But the message they send
is different and seems that they understand the audience in
different ways. Therefore, a common construction of the message to
be transmitted to the audience can turn into an advantage for both,
journalists and scientists. At a step away around this idea is the
one which requires flexibility on both sides.
These were some of the ideas that we have launched at the very
beginning of the event and they have received comments on the last
part of the meeting.
Sotira Trifourki from the company Space Connections, United
Kingdom, was the first of our partners who came into contact with
the participants to the science café. She has several years
experience in science education. Specifically, she is working with
middle school and high school students from most of the UK regions.
She teaches students practical notions about space and astronomy.
These types of activities are trying to raise the interest in
experimenting science. Not in vain because students started asking
questions and was found an increase in enthusiasm and motivation of
young people for learning.
Sotira is a good communicator of science. At an Istanbul meeting
that took place a few years ago, she demonstrate her communication
skills in front of an international network of passionate and
highly skilled science communicators. We are speaking about the
meeting of the Famelab winners and the network FameLab Beautiful
Science Network held in rein by Professor Malcolm Love. Among the
personalities who joined the event was Lord Robert Winston. On the
stage, Sotira introduced the subject of Sun and Moon eclipses and
determined Lord Robert Winston to dance!
Why this do not happens here? Because we don't have Lords!? We
have local barons as ironically suggested many participants in the
room.
On the other hand, maybe there were no journalists; maybe there
aren't journalists to provoke them, as said Dr. Magda Stavinschi,
astronomer and science communicator, a well known personality both
in Romania and abroad.
Returning to the question, Gabriel Ivan says the issue is not
how you make the Lords to dance but how you make children to be
careful and this thing happens inside and outside the classroom.
"Experiments like this are very rare here" and should become a
movement otherwise "we still have much to far" as he says.
Dr. Magda Stavinschi said that now is the time for action and
efforts must be correlated with representatives of specialized
organizations and associations, such as Euroscience. In this
approach, which aims to attract children to science, there is a
necessarily need of science journalists and science communicators
as they are linking the public with scientists.
Prof. Univ. Dr. George Istodor believes that from this perspective,
it is a step back from what was the situation more than 20 years
ago; he brings into attention various extracurricular activities in
which students could enroll, the so-called circles devoted almost
every field of science.
On the other hand, science faculties have fewer candidates, the
proportion of she students is increasingly smaller. Dr. Roxana
Bojariu believes that it is a systemic problem: "What happens now
with science, it happens not only in the general school but
unfortunately it also happens later. Those who think at such a
career eventually realize that in our country there is no
predictability."
Attempts to make contact with our colleagues from Athens were
successful. We hear and see eachother well. We were joined by two
Greek researchers, Dr. Kostas Karpouzis and Dr. Spiros Kitsinelis,
former winners and fans of science FameLab competition.
Speaking of science communication, they say that there is a very
small number of journalists who write about science in general,
covering topics from the economy to climate change. In most cases
there are news translated into Greek language.
In Greece, however, there are writers which tackle various topics
of science and arrange texts in the form of dialogues for
dramatization. Therefore, are actors with experience in
communicating science!
We should add the qualified science writers. Besides writings
books, they participate in various debates, events or science
cafes. Spiros reminds us of publishers and journals of science
known throughout Europe and nominates Focus publication.
Unfortunately, there are no "stars" of science communication.
It's true that Spiros and Kostas were invited to a series of TV
shows but their presence were punctual. They gave interviews for
several magazines and that was all.
Spiros thinks that the situation differs from country to country
and takes Turkey as example. The FameLab competition was
broadcasted on TV and nearly 25 million people watched it.
Television is very important and in Greece there are not enough
science programs. "I think that only when TV is involved, science
can really reach the public," said Spiros.
What to do is simple, at least in theory. You have to sell
science subjects, and this means to have audience; on the other
hand, it seems that science do not attract public. "Science is not
so popular as a singer's or actor's divorce. Science must become a
little more sexy "says Spiros.
So we came to science and love, another theme proposed for the
science café. Our Greek colleagues showed links between science and
romance in a drama that was played lately.
Kostas says that basically we can find scientific explanations
for almost anything. Even for God. The question is whether we want
to prove that science and love are related. Are we speaking maybe
about hormones or pheromones or a certain mental state that gives
us the feeling that we found the pair, a situation which has no
solid scientific basis?
Spiros said that if we bring into discussion the metaphysics of
love, science is not likely to provide any explanation. "In the
mentioned play, we tried to prove that each gram of love and sex is
actually chemistry and biology.
Therefore, the relationship between science and love is
characterized by some chemistry, some biology and perhaps a bit of
math.
Spiros and Kostas remembers us the extraordinary opportunity for
science popularization during the 2009 International Year of
Astronomy. It seems that in terms of communicating astronomy,
things are better than with other sciences. That's because they are
experts who have double specializations, both in astronomy and
communication.
Because we were exactly with one week before Christmas, Greek
colleagues have told us about the science of Christmas, another
show that was organized as a drama. Christmas tree and its
decorating lights, Santa Claus and how he distributed the presents
were just a few of the subjects covered which they have tried to
explain with the help of science; they have brought up relativity,
light sources science and ecology. The play had seven performances
in two Greek cities. This project was done by many authors but
generally speaking they connect Christmas traditions with
scientific evidence.
Both love and Christmas are topics that might be sold. The next
project Kostas and Spiros are working on focus on sport, also a
topic that sells well. It is also a project supported by the
British Council which will be done through a book of thematic
articles.
Starting from a presentation made by the British FameLab winners
about super heroes like Spiderman or Superman, Spiros and Kostas
have set up another project that links science with Greek
mythology.
We've tried to find out if science and religion might be a
subject to be sold in Greece. It seems that so far there was no
serious debate on this issue. So, no question of dialogue between
science and religion. So we tried to find out what kind of
relationship exists between science and religion.
"There should be neither friends nor enemies. Faith is a
personal matter and you can choose to believe or not. I do not
think that can be linked "said Kostas.
Spiros join his colleague's response. "We should not talk about
friends or enemies. They have nothing in common, are two completely
different things".
Turning to the essential question of the cafe, Kostas said that is
a need for investment in training journalists and even scientists
who write about science. From this perspective, Famelab competition
and courses offered to the finalists were a very promising step
forward. Therefore, the same conclusion which could detach also in
Romania and we spoke and wrote about it on many other
occasions.
Until the moment of establishing connection with Dr. Camelia
Chira - winner of the first edition of FameLab in Romania - based
in Cluj-Napoca (town in the centre of the country) discussions were
animated around the theme of science and religion.
We keep in mind Alberto Manca's answer, the youngest of the
participants at the science café. He has 17 years old and he is a
student at International High School of Informatics in Bucharest.
He loves books and to learn as implying the results obtained so
far: astronomy medalist at international competitions and has been
awarded a special prize for best practical work.
"For now, as Kostas said, it is not something defined yet, they
can be neither friends nor enemies; however, it seems that the
Vatican has taken the initiative and realizes that religion cannot
coexist with science unless one accepts. Religion comes with faith,
science comes up with facts. When there are certain data, religion
cannot simply say: do not think this, is wrong. I mean, I believe
in God, I am as much religious as time permitting, but we should
somehow find a balance. After all, science has its origins
somewhere in the church, in the first writings that were made by
monks and the first schools that had priests as teachers. Religion
was a source of knowledge. "
When we speak of dialogue between science and religion we should
refer also to those who take part in such a dialogue. On one hand,
there are scientists who are not genuine scientists and that paves
the way to "all kinds of paranormals who speak in the name of
religion"; the situation "certainly harms both religion and
science," says Gabriel Ivan .
Prof. Univ. Dr. George Istodor said that we should not make
confusion between "religiosity and all their occult forms that
flood mass media. As an Orthodox theologian I see extremely well
this mutual opening between academia and religion, but I fear that
this opening in the Roman Catholic Church is risky. They try to put
science results that are always ascending, while teaching the faith
is revealed. We can go to the revelation only in depth. Therefore,
only with this mention, I welcome the extraordinary opening of the
West, especially the Catholics, and I think we should do the same
thing. Fortunately, we have scientists who are practitioners more
even than some theologians and this is the source of our
force".
Connection with Dr. Camelia Chira has been established. Nothing
could be more appropriate as time as soon as the discussion was
focused on the strength of scientists.
"I am scientific researcher at Babes Bolyai University in Cluj
Napoca, in computing and more specifically, artificial
intelligence. I have a clear passion for science, I attended the
first edition of FameLab in Romania, in 2007. On that time I
couldn't believe that we can take part at such event of
communication of science to the public; until then I have presented
science to the specialists at conferences, under very special
conditions".
It should be noted here that before FameLab Camelia presented
science, after FameLab starts to communicate.
"I have introduced in my presentations at the conferences all
kinds of things that might call attention of the colleagues who
listen to me. For example, I brought in slides instead of formulas
and text, a picture of the nature, which is a kind of yupi! for the
scientists".
As notable events in which science has played an essential role
in this period, besides those dedicated to the International Year
of Astronomy 2009 - which took place in high schools and
universities of Bucharest - the essay contest " Cassini Astronomer
", that I think will help to the formation of a new generation of
communicators of science (Science Newspaper, click
here).
Notable is the first Romanian translation of the book "The Journey
of Man: A Genetic Odyssey" by Spencer Wells at the autumn Bucharest
Gaudeamus Book Fair. Volume appeared at CD Press Publishing House
and is written by director of the Genographic Project, Dr. Spencer
Wells, who make the blood talk (more details
here). Last but not least, have to mention the British
Council's science café.
From Cluj-Napoca, Dr. Camelia Chira note the "communication
sessions with students at Babes Bolyai University; these are
scientific communications sessions dedicated to students; they
present their interest, what they would like to study; it always
happens around Christmas. I personally associate with Christmas and
the time is very welcome knowing that we want to attract students
to science, to research. "
On science and religion "I would not say they are enemies. I
would keep somewhere in the middle, could be more like friends.
Coming back to the theme of the meeting, I think that science and
journalism has to go hand to hand, "said Dr. Camelia Chira, one of
the Science Newspaper's collaborators.
Dr. Magda Stavinschi announces that on April 17, 2010 at Babes
Bolyai University in Cluj-Napoca it will take place a spring school
for youth on the subject science and spirituality, and the
coordinator of the event is Academician Basarab Nicolescu.
The end of the dialogue with Dr. Camelia Chira has brought a new
issue in the spotlight. That's because I used the greeting "Happy
Holidays!".
"Winter's Holidays is the correspondent of the Western secular
Mos Gerila (The Freezing Old Man, ie Santa Claus). At the moment
some people are trying a substitution. In the West and especially
in America, Christmas is disproportionate in comparison with the
Resurrection of Christ, in terms of religious importance. I mean
Christmas has greater importance. Then there is this trend that has
even atheistic accents, to say 'happy holidays, safely winter
holidays, be healthy' without telling Merry Christmas, Happy
Christmas," said Fr. Prof. Univ. Dr. George Istodor.
Dana Radler disagree: "I would like to contradict you, because
when I wish Merry Christmas I assume that the other is Christian.
What if it's not a Christian?"
The answer came promptly from Prof. Univ. Dr. George Istodor:
"Whether we like it or not, Christianity is ingrained in Western
structures more than we want to recognize. I speak of some trends.
The problem is the following: we forget that before calling it
Europe, all the region was known as Christianity in medieval times.
Unfortunately, pre-French revolution wins against the Carolingian
renaissance. Although Charles the Great was illiterate he still had
the strength to try a revival with the help of church and
monasteries, the source of culture as our young student said
before".
It is almost obvious that science and religion is a hot topic
here, it can become in Greece but how is seen in the UK?
That was the moment for a new and favorable video connection,
this time again with Sotira Trifourki located in Manchester: "When
speaking of science and religion, it actually comes to creationism.
Science is sometimes seen as friend, sometimes as foe. I think the
answer depends on cultural background of the person who is
asked".
Time passes faster than imagined. Initial time was over. But
discussions flowed. Sometimes dialogues resemble a game of ping
pong, sometimes a play.
"I am a little puzzled by this story about science and religion.
Why this passion gets exaggerated? Why not mention for example,
science and art, science as a religion? In my opinion, art,
science, religion are ways of perceiving reality and express it
with a specific language; I do not see why you have to be close, to
put in an artificially touch some ways of perceiving reality that
cannot be brought together. Pure and simple, they do not have the
same goal. Science wants something, religion wants something else.
There is no dialogue! There shouldn't be a dialogue!" said Dr.
Roxana Bojariu.
This is the time to remember that art as the interface between
science and religion was the main theme to one of the international
congresses organized by the Association for Dialogue between
Science and Theology in Romania (ADSTR).
From the perspective of the architect Vasile Popescu "the
dialogue is everywhere" even "between the drop of water and
air".
Dr. Roxana Bojariu: "It's about different ways. The science is
clear, start from some assumptions and build with tools that all
the scientific community use. I do not see why I use the tools of
science in addressing religion or art ".
Dana Radler: "It doesn't mean that they are antagonistic".
Prof. Univ. Dr. George Istodor: "There are not antagonistic but
do not have dialogue?"
Gabriel Ivan: "It depends what we mean by dialogue. Maybe they
do not work together ... "
Prof. Univ. Dr. George Istodor (continue the idea): "... have
specific means. The scientist might be a religious man? "
Dr. Roxana Bojariu: "This is a private matter!"
Prof. Univ. Dr. George Istodor: "No!"
Architect Vasile Popescu: "The scientist may also be a religious
man! The church is built by an architect, the architect has a
constructor or a technician that knows how to prepare the mortar,
how cannot be compatible? "
Gabriel Ivan: "I think there is a dialogue between science and
religion. We are talking always passionate and that demonstrates
that we have a dialogue".
Ionel Andrei returns to science and journalism: "We've started
from a hypothesis and we talked about an audience. If we fix a
hypothesis we can reach some conclusions. There are already opened
so many challenges. I wonder and ask those who are journalists, who
would buy and how well it would sell such a discussion, how can we
convince the young generation to embark on science, how can we
convince them is not in contradiction, and should not even ask
whether it is enemy or friend, if love is nothing more than
interdisciplinarity or other mode of communication or what does
love mean in terms of researcher. From this point of view and from
my professional interest I would be very interested in a
partnership between science and journalism. I see science and
religion as complementary. Eventually, we are all people, whether
scientists or have any other profession, and even at the last
minute or in the last day of our life, all we get to leave on
account of divinity what we did not found. "
Does science is always based on facts? "Theoretical physics is
not based on facts, is based on human reason ..." notes Gabriel
Ivan.
Dr. Magda Stavinschi takes up the idea supported by Ionel
Andrei: "The first colloquium which was held in Romania, a first in
post-communist and Orthodox, had as theme "Science and religion -
antagonistic or complementary?"
Passionate about science, quantum physics and theory of
relativity, my colleague and friend Mihai Garba follows everything
what is being discussed online. His intervention opened a new
perspective on the subject. "I am interested in the subject of
science and religion for a long time. My observation is that the
main part resembles, because supporters are very fervent, each
seeking to prove their own point of view; indeed there is a major
conflict between science and religion, each comes with facts or
fragments taken from the Bible, or sacred texts, or daily research;
we, who are popularising science, we are addressing mainly to the
children and students and less to those who already have a job - it
is not said very clearly while in school that science is based on
some conditions or on some theories that are based on some axioms.
All theories of physics, whether the fundamental theory, strings,
particles, or other forms, starts from some axioms".
Dr. Roxana Bojariu: "... in science, any theory is validated in
practice through experiments"
Mihai Garba (continues): "the student, you think what you learn
in school teacher, science alone is an absolute truth"
Dr. Roxana Bojariu: "Science does not want absolute truths; this
is clearly not the purpose of science ..."
Mihai Garba: "Exactly! But if it is taught as absolute truth is
like religion."
Dr. Roxana Bojariu: "It's not the science fault ...."
Mihai Garba: "I blame teachers, science communicators. Here is
the problem we have at school. Right now we have some theories that
are validated in practice only to a point. "
Dr. Roxana Bojariu: "We do not work with absolute truths, but
with models of reality, we use real instruments in order to move
forward and to find new corners of reality."
Gabriel Ivan: "Aren't you impressed by the fact that models fit
reality?"
Dr. Roxana Bojariu: "No, because we are selecting those models that
match reality.
A careful observer, Prof. Univ. Dr. George Istodor remarked:
"Settled people already have passed the issue of conflict, of
dispute; people who are still looking, they do not have the
necessary experience either they haven't enough information from
both spheres, and still access the differences and conflict and
whatever."
Prof. Dr. Elena Stanculescu: "It was very nice pointed out here
the idea of complementarity and then teachers' fault. I do not want
to find any guilty but it is true that, from the psychological
point of view, since the 1960s it is stressed the need to change
something in education in order to stimulate pleasure of learning.
In other words, researchers noted that in the education of that
time, unfortunately in Romania even today, a great emphasis falls
on reproduction, on algorithmic thinking and the ability to develop
sophisticated reasoning.
In education, bringing science closer to children shouldn't be
emphasized only on problem solving but mainly on problem finding.
So, not only to solve problems but also to be encouraged to
discover. To be frequent as many moments Eureka!, the pleasure to
discover.
Is it true that playful spirit stimulates not only children but
also adults. On the other hand, if we do a thorough presentation so
that you have a mix between rationality, cognition and emotion, the
impact is very high.
It was said earlier that in terms of neurological science, man
thinks with a certain part of the brain and religion with another
part of the brain. It is a cliché.
Psychologists have found that people fully use their left
hemisphere that appear to respond by algorithmically thinking, the
analytical spirit. To get great results in science means to have a
synthetic mind, an extraordinary intuition, not just the ability to
apply algorithms. Always there is communication between right and
left hemisphere.
When man prays, cortical and sub cortical activities come into
action - hippocampus, limbic system, one that responds to emotions.
The religious feeling is not just cognition".
Knowledge is at a hand distance for everyone. Reading does not
hurt, as one friend said. We are recommending the science and
religion books collection from Curtea Veche Publishing House (click
here).
It was an event full of spiritual gains. I had the feeling that
those who participated did not leave bored or tired. I imagined
that everyone continues to ask questions and try to answer. That
probably until they left the British Council's area. It was heavily
snowing, walking was a tough aim. However, it was the end of a
Friday afternoon, the weekend started and there were only a few
days before Christmas. That was it. A real story with coffee! It
wouldn't be written without the main characters: Ionel Andrei
(National Authority for Scientific Research, ANCS), arh. Vasile Ion, Pr. Prof.
Univ. Dr. George Istodor, Andrada Fiscutean (Pro FM, Pro TV),
Alberto Manca (student), Prof. Dr. Elena Stanculescu (Bucharest
University), Mihai Garba (IT specialist), Dr. Magda Stavinschi, Dr.
Corina Stavinschi, Dr. Roxana Bojariu (ANM), Dr. Mihai Popa, Dana
Radler (British Council), Gabriel Ivan (British Council), Dr.
Camelia Chira (Babes Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania), Dr.
Kostas Karpouzis (Openscience
forum, Greece), Dr. Spiros Kitsinelis (Science Communication
Newsletter - SciCo, Greece) si Sotira Trifourki (Space Connections,
UK).