Blog prompt #4

Professor Hirsh-Pasek challenges that students should "find ways to apply their major and their personal subjects of study to the common good," also mentioning that it is the duty of scientists and science writers, along with others, to make all attempts to "give science away." Now admittedly, my own specialization is not in any of the hard science fields - my major and minor specializations point me purely towards the social sciences and the humanities; specifically, focusing down from Media and Communication Studies into English literature and Film Studies. I personally do believe that media can be applied to the common good, despite the mass predilection people seem to have for assuming that the media is the cause of all the evils of the world, or that violent media is a major factor in violent actions by youths and adolescents. I'm not saying that it is un-involved entirely; I have no proof to the contrary in any means. But the studies I've read on the matter are either hopelessly out of date, or are phrased in such a way as to appear to be absolute gobbledygook. But that is neither here nor there.

My own reasons for taking a class in science journalism mainly revolve around the media - I saw the name "Decoding Science", and my mind translated it as "Debunking Science", or "Decoding Technobabble." And that is the key of how I see media being used "for the common good", as much as to Give science away. When factual technology and science are included in fictional movies or programs, they impart some knowledge subconsciously to the viewer. They may not really realize that they have gained some scientific literacy from the program or the film, but they will have, no matter how slight. That sparks an interest, and people look to the internet, friends, or other references to satisfy the curiosity that comes from it. If they find what they were looking for, grand. But more likely, especially with the internet as it is, as soon as you find one thing, you'll find links and connections to others, leading you down paths of interest to find out more.

Look at some of the television shows on the air in recent years - All the CSI series' show high technology being used to solve crimes, in ways of derring do that actual science labs would never in fact enact, at speeds there is no physical way that they would be able to achieve. But the basic science of how the machines work is there. Look at older programs as well - artificial intelligences abounded, problems could be solved by throwing five more syllables of technobabble at the bridge crew, and the final frontier was explored, where no man had ever gone before. Programs like star trek, sci fi epics of that vein inspired millions on paths of science, technology, and discovery. At this time, I believe the world is simply waiting for the next epic of that vein to appear, and it is the responsibility and pleasure of science fiction writers, science journalists, and media producers to provide it.