Week Ten - The Generosity of New Media (Science, Technology and Innovation)

Source: http://www.brightlabs.com.au/content/Image/science-social-media-graphics.jpg

For my entire university life, I've been keenly aware of the blending of media and science. The experience of my first degree in forensic chemistry gave me first hand knowledge of the role new media plays in developing science and technology. Most modern medical facilities are completely dependent upon media forms; radio, tv monitors, computers, phones, communication systems. Science would not be able to develop without media technologies. Open science would not be so open without media. However, as technologies advance, our ability to manipulate science has also developed. As the Guardian article explores, scientists can now create artificial life forms that have the potential to disrupt the natural environment if released. The debate around this is very heated; to what extent is it beneficial, and to what extent is it detrimental?


The DNA Database article raises the interesting point of the discrepancy between the 'real' science and the 'reported' science, demonstrating that the common belief of DNA being like a database is in fact an untruth. I think this article demonstrates that whilst on a practical level (computers, monitors, medical equipment), the relationship between media and science is very important, the relationship between media and science on a more theoretical level is more dubious. In the same way, the Skeptical Science blog demonstrates the publicised errors of scientific judgement which people have taken as scientific fact. New media allows for a much greater exploration of science, technology and innovation, however, this exploration does not exclude unverified 'facts' that can be published and spread through media.


Discussions around 'open' forms of communication, whether it be science or media, relate quite strongly to my research proposal. As I am investigating how people reveal and conceal information, and this topic can be explored through the notion of 'open' information, and the benefits and detriments of being so open with information.


Whilst the video below is a comedy sketch, it demonstrates the real interaction between science and media, and more importantly, how science is represented in the media. The sketch questions how the representation of science in the media is unbalanced, and how the media agenda dictates the presentation of scientific events.













References


http://www.brightlabs.com.au/content/Image/science-social-media-graphics.jpg


Fish, Greg (2009) ‘Why your dna is nothing like a database’, Weird Things <http://worldofweirdthings.com/2009/10/21/why-your-dna-is-nothing-like-a-database/>


Sample, Ian (2010) ‘Craig Venter Creates Synthetic Life Form’, The Guardian May 2, <http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2010/may/20/craig-venter-synthetic-life-form>


<http://www.skepticalscience.com/>