BSE, global warming, genetically modified crops and nuclear power - at the heart of many of today's most important social and political issues lies the communication of scientific information. But science never stands alone; when it is presented to the public it is generally mediated through other institutions: the moral concerns of religious leaders; the political influence of governments and pressure groups, or the media's desire for conflict and controversy.

BSE, global warming, genetically modified crops and nuclear power - at the heart of many of today's most important social and political issues lies the communication of scientific information. But science never stands alone; when it is presented to the public it is generally mediated through other institutions: the moral concerns of religious leaders; the political influence of governments and pressure groups, or the media's desire for conflict and controversy.

As part of National Science Week 2001, the University of Cambridge is holding a symposium, Projecting Science into Society, to consider how and why scientific messages become distorted. Places are still available for the symposium which is organised by the Department of Zoology. It is supported by the Wellcome Trust and the Gruter Institute for Law and Behavioural Research.

Professor Oliver Goodenough, of Vermont Law School, is one of the event organisers:

"The media seeks to arouse the emotions of audiences - headlines scream 'outrage', and interviewers pick fights with politicians. But how does science fit into all this? Its ethos is to strip away emotions and focus on facts - but in reporting science, are we interested in facts or fights? If the former, there is little coverage or attention; if the latter, plenty of press coverage, but the science is often hopelessly lost in the shouting."

"Views of science often become re-focused by different institutions as they are prepared for public consumption," he explained. "If we understand the rules of these transformations, we can begin to make choices about how - and whether - to counteract them."

World class experts from Cambridge, Britain, and beyond, will be present to dissect, in turn, law, religion, politics and the media. Speakers and panellists will include:

All participants in the conference are invited to attend a special Science Week debate, Who's in Control?, following the symposium. The debate will take place in the Lady Mitchell Hall, Sidgwick Avenue, Cambridge, at 7pm on Wednesday 21 March 2001. Panellists will include zoologist Professor Patrick Bateson; author A.S. Byatt DBE; Sir Robert May, President of the Royal Society; Anjana Ahuja, science correspondent at The Times, and Ruth Deech, chairman of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority.

For full programme details and to register for the symposium, contact the Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge. Tel: 01223 336600, or e-mail yj209@hermes.cam.ac.uk


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