Science Borealis

Science Borealis
Science Borealis

Thursday 30 May 2013

Cow chemistry and toxic minds

It is far easier to put toxic thoughts in the general public mind than it is to put chemical at toxic level that would spread as far and persist as long.

Why?

Whenever there's a physically toxic effect due to a chemical compound in the population, an investigation is immediate. Regulations are verified, enforcement is increased, and the public safety is restored.

Whenever there's a mentally toxic effect due to propaganda against (a chemical for example), the general public tends to disregard previously attained scientifically knowledge, overlook numerous supporting facts as to the actual benign nature of the issue, and the fear and bias spreads and persist.

When we rely on "experts advice" how can we tell who is a genuine interest-free trust-worthy expert? It is hard. I faced such situations myself in the past, and am sure they will come again in the future.

But here's the decisive concept: numbers and relevance.
I already posted in the past on how it is easy to present a chemical as toxic, even though it may be a vitamin without which we surely will die. For the most part, amounts are a crucial piece of information we need to know in order to assess whether something is dangerous or not.
Jow Schwarcz said it clearly and elegantly just yesterday: http://blogs.nature.com/soapboxscience/2013/05/29/the-presence-of-a-chemical-is-not-the-same-as-presence-of-risk/

I met Dr. Schwarcz once, at the University of Toronto back in 2011, when he gave a talk at the Chemistry Department entitled: "Are cows more trustworthy than chemists?"

(the reference to cow can be found here:

But putting cows aside, his talk was all about how people get wrong ideas about chemicals, their nature, their uses and how to interpret what they see/hear from others. An example was a chemical which is both in a cleaning product as well as in a frozen dinner.

Thinking back at Dr. Schwarcz talk, I can say he is part of why I am engaged today in presenting science to the general public, working hard to fight chemophobia, and just enjoying sharing my love of science with anyone who cares to listen. Thank you Dr. Schwarcz.

Monday 13 May 2013

Look me in the eye and tell me this doesn't look like fun

My last post was a heads up for Science Rendezvous, an annual science festival held across Canada, which aims to "present a unified voice on the importance of science to society, and collectively generate a culture of discovery and innovation in Canada."

Bringing science to the people is, for me, an endeavor of great importance.
It shows people the complexity, the versatility, and most importance the omniprescence of science in everything we encounter in our lives.

Science and Technology enabled so many things that we take for granted:

Electricity (beofre, fire was the only way to produce light)
Refrigeration (before, you needed ice to cool stuff)
Engines (before, horses were used as the best means of transportation)
Medicine (before, mortality was so much higher)
Electronics (did people have blogs before computers were invented?)
Communications (when couriers and pigeons were the fastest way to share information over distances)

I'm just reading a book about the history of Science and Technology in the twentieth century, which brings so many exapmles of inventions and discoveries that have lead to great effects on human society (whether for better or worse we can argue on a different blog)

So shaking up scientists from their labs, getting them to face the public, stare them in the eyes and say "isn't this great?" is a reminder we all need.

Just take a look at all these great displays of science:

A water based organ:

A rover robot:



The Bernoulli Effect (source: http://uwaterloo.ca/institute-nanotechnology/community/outreach/science-rendezvous)


A giant colon you can walk through (source: http://www.marsdd.com/event/science-rendezvous/)


A fire tornado (source: http://www.uwindsor.ca/dailynews/2012-05-08/uwindsor-pair-to-promote-science-rendezvous-before-national-audience)


Can't wait to see what they come up with next year....

Friday 10 May 2013

Its Science Carnival Season again in Canada - May 11 - Science Rendezvous

Tomorrow, May 11 2013, Canada will be celebrating Science, now in its 6th year.

The name of the game is SCIENCE RENDEZVOUS

Where? so many places across Canada, you're probably not too far from a location right now.

I'll save on words, because all the info is right here:

 http://www.sciencerendezvous.ca/

I'll write some more after the event.

Hope you can make it. Spread the word. Its going to be GREAT!!!