Transcript Science and Society: Some Thoughts and Observations

Science and Society
Some thoughts and
observations.
Edward M. Frymoyer
Aug. 10, 20071
Where have we Been- Time
Scales to Public Understanding
 20th Century Physics Advances
 Quantum Behavior ~ 100 years
 Still not well understood
 Quantum Theory ~ 100 years
 Uncertainty, Entanglement not well understood
 Relativity -- Somewhat understood
 General Relativity - not understood
 Standard Model -- written about- not
understood
 “Big Bang”, CBE -- symbolic only
 Collective behavior - distributed systems
 Still new science
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The Frontiers of Physics
 Things of Our Curiosity/Imagination
 May be Reality in the Next Period
 Higgs Boson
 Gravitational Wave Astronomy
 Dark Matter
 WIMPS
 Dark Energy
 Is there a Fifth Force at long Space
Time “distances”
 λ - Cosmological constant
 EXPECT Surprises
 Interdisciplinary programs produce
breakthroughs
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Science and the Ideologs
 Science requires thinking,
models
 Observation- demonstration measurement
 Dialog - Skepticism
 “Work”
 Errors are real, quantifiable
 Ideology requires Belief
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Generally static, “settled”
Error is absent
“Easy” - no thinking energy required
Centuries long conflict - recurring
 Public understanding of Scientific
Method weak in many places
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Scales and Models
 Scales in the Universe
 From Plank to Cosmological
 Different “Seeing” and models
required for understanding
 What the Institute is all about
 Engaging the Public Understanding
of our quest
 Space-Time scales
 Energy Scales
 Gradually Gaining Public
Perception
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The Status of Public Science
Information
 Shows -- Sat/Cable TV
 National Geographic Channel
 Discovery Channel
 Public Television - US & Foreign
 Publications - Nature/Science great others getting lean
 A lot of new books about Science-Physics, Relativity. Etc.
 The Internet - good/great web sites
 But-- Shrinking size and support for
Science Columnists
 Educated classes “get it”
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The status of Scientific
Understanding is getting better
 Basic scientific literacy has almost tripled in
the last two decades.
 Now the US is second in the world at 28% -behind Sweden.
 In the UK - on a per capita basis 155/100
Science graduates to the US.
 Other - Asian- countries the “quantity” is
higher.
 2005 Critical report has produced funding
action - $38B- over three years US just signed
for STEM education.
 But is this good enough for a 21st Century
science based society to be robust?
 Where are the program funding $ to support
the new crop of STEM graduates?
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So how do we decrease the
Science/Society Gap?
 Focus on communication Simple- but NOT sound bite items
 Graphics and video methods- a visual
society - Numerical/graphical methods are
a great match
 Spokespersons - effective, but skeptical
 Great popular level blogs.
 Engage the public curiosity/imagination
 We no longer have the “fear”- nuclear
weapons- factors working for us.
 Continue publication of more “popular”
level books- an important segment of
society will read them.
 More multinational programs
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Goals
 Keep the level of Governmental
Support up
 Concerted work to raise the level of
Government executive/official
understanding and consistent support
 Combat the “politicalization of science"
 Philanthropy
 Increase the level of
 Private foundation support
 Private business
 Leverage the travel industry
 Emphasize longer term institutional
 We cannot do much with short term “grant
chasing” here
 Progress in Physics takes a while
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Suggestion
 Emphasize the Interdisciplinary
Aspects
 Astronomy/ AstroPhysics
 Information and Info Theory
Aspects
 Gravitation
 Geometry
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 Multi-institutional - worldwide
 Games are strong among youth
and surprisingly the youthful old.
 Models of Context
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Thank you
Ed Frymoyer
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