44 Days to 2012 CSF & Living Plastic

What do you think when you hear the words: "the first eating material"?  This 60-second Earth podcast "Living Plastic Eats Split Food" describes a self-cleaning plastic surface.

I generally consider myself a very technology-friendly person.  I enjoy the tech-takes-over-the-world story lines of Blade Runner, Terminator, and the Matrix as much as the next scifi geek, but overall I think the advances we make in robotic and computing technologies are very much a good thing.  But I can't seem to get over the "ick" factor of the idea of a plastic eating remains off of itself.  Add your thoughts in the comments below.

Annnnnd, moving on to the Event of the Day!




Standing Up for Science Media Workshop

Tuesday, April 24, 2012
10:00am-4:30pm
Broad Institute, 7 Cambridge Center

Are you passionate about your research?  

Do you think it is important for good science and evidence to be communicated to a wider audience?  What can you do to address scientific misconceptions and misinformation?

This full day event is FREE and open to early career researchers in all sciences, engineering and medicine (PhD students, post-docs or equivalent in first job). 

Check out comments and reactions from February's Media Workshop here!

To Apply: Send a CV and short COVER LETTER to Leonor Sierra (international@senseaboutscience.org) by WEDNESDAY 14TH MARCH 2012. These workshops are very popular and there are limited places available.

The Day's Panels:

Panel 1
Science in the media: What happens when research announcements go wrong; statistics are manipulated; risk factors are distorted; or discussions become polarized?
  
Speakers include: 
Professor Lorna Gibson, Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, MIT; 
Dr Willy Lensch, Principal Faculty and Faculty Director of Education, Harvard Stem Cell Institute.

Panel 2
What journalists are looking for: How do journalists approach stories and balance the need for news and entertainment with reporting science? And deal with accusations of polarizing debates and misrepresenting facts?

Speakers include: 
Gino del Guercio, Adjunct Professor, College of Communication, Boston University

Panel 3 
Standing up for science; the nuts and bolts: This session offers practical guidance for early career researchers to get their voices heard in debates about science; how to respond to bad science when you see it; and top tips for if you come face-to-face with a journalist!


Speakers include: 
B. D. Colen, Sr. Communications Officer for University Science, Harvard University; 
Leonor Sierra, International Science and Policy Manager, Sense About Science