Does Science Improve Policy?
Maybe. Clinton and McCain both got hammered for their dumb gas tax holiday last summer.
But then you read news articles like this: http://www.technologyreview.com/energy/23343/?nlid=2323
Which is a complete lie. The study actually concludes the EXACT OPPOSITE of what the article says it does: http://www8.nationalacademies.org/onpinews/newsitem.aspx?RecordID=12747
One of the upsides of the old model of news (with just a few content providers) is that each news outlet could build up a reputation. Now that any old bozo can write articles, consumers of news are going to have to get a lot better about going to the source, and scientists are going to have to make it easier for the average joe to decide if any given news article is misrepresenting the research.
Maybe journals could have two versions: One for experts in the field, and then an alternate version (whether written by the researchers themselves or else someone working at the journal) containing all the same articles but with none of the technical details, methods, or jargon.
But then you read news articles like this: http://www.technologyreview.com/energy/23343/?nlid=2323
Which is a complete lie. The study actually concludes the EXACT OPPOSITE of what the article says it does: http://www8.nationalacademies.org/onpinews/newsitem.aspx?RecordID=12747
One of the upsides of the old model of news (with just a few content providers) is that each news outlet could build up a reputation. Now that any old bozo can write articles, consumers of news are going to have to get a lot better about going to the source, and scientists are going to have to make it easier for the average joe to decide if any given news article is misrepresenting the research.
Maybe journals could have two versions: One for experts in the field, and then an alternate version (whether written by the researchers themselves or else someone working at the journal) containing all the same articles but with none of the technical details, methods, or jargon.
posted by AdamB at 1:50 PM
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