Yes / Objectives: In this brief communication we discuss issues concerning scientific rigour in palaeopathological publications, particularly studies published in clinical or general science journals, that employ skeletal analysis to elucidate the lives and deaths of historical figures or interpret “mysterious” assemblages or burials. We highlight the relationship between poor methodological rigour and lack of interdisciplinary communication, and discuss how this can result in scientifically weak, sensational narratives being presented to the public. Conclusions: Although most high profile publications involving analysis of archaeological human remains are methodologically sound and well interpreted, others have suffered from poor scientific rigour stemming from an apparent lack of awareness of anthropological methods and ethics. When these publications are highlighted by the press, sensationalistic narratives are perpetuated which may reflect poorly on our discipline and give the public unrealistic expectations about our work. Suggestions for future research: We suggest that best practice in high-profile paleopathological research include recruitment of a range of authors and reviewers from clinical sciences, anthropology, and the humanities, consideration of the ethical issues surrounding retrospective diagnosis, and transparency with the press in regards to the limitations inherent in this kind of work.

Scientific culture is not popular because the essential nature of science – the models and practises that make it up – cannot be communicated via conventional media in a manner that is interesting to the average person. These models and practises might be communicated in an interesting manner using the new medium of the digital game, yet very few digital games based upon scientific simulations have been created and thus the potential of such games to facilitate scientific knowledge construction cannot be studied directly. Scientific simulations have, however, been much used by scientists to facilitate their own knowledge construction, and equally, both simulations and games have been used by science educators to facilitate knowledge construction on the part of their students. The large academic literatures relating to these simulations and games collectively demonstrate that their ability to: re-create reality; model complex systems; be visual and interactive; engage the user in the practise of science; and to engage the user in construction and collaboration, makes them powerful tools for facilitating scientific knowledge construction. Moreover, the large non-academic literature discussing the nature of digital games (which are themselves both simulations and games) demonstrates that their ability to perform the above tasks (i.e. to re-create reality, model complex systems, and so forth) is what makes them enjoyable to play.¶Because the features of scientific and educational simulations and games that facilitate knowledge construction are the very same features that make digital games enjoyable to play, the player of a scientific-simulation-based digital game would be simultaneously gaining enjoyment and acquiring scientific knowledge. If science were widely communicated using digital games, therefore, then it would be possible for there to be a popular scientific culture.

Two centuries after the printing press was invented, the first scholarly journal appeared in 1665. Less than two decades after the journal went online, the digital format is reshaping scholarly communication rapidly. We are moving quickly towards an open system of scholarship, and from a Western heritage of print scholarship to a future of global knowledge, a shift driven by the communications revolution. This thesis provides data describing the size and growth of the universe of scholarship, its global reach, how much of it is accessible free of charge on the internet and the rate at which that share is growing. Open Access together with development programs aimed at reducing price barriers to subscription journals have vastly increased the possibilities for accessing research in the South. The relevance to globalization and development is explored conceptually and revealed in the results.

Two centuries after the printing press was invented, the first scholarly journal appeared in 1665. Less than two decades after the journal went online, the digital format is reshaping scholarly communication rapidly. We are moving quickly towards an open system of scholarship, and from a Western heritage of print scholarship to a future of global knowledge, a shift driven by the communications revolution. This thesis provides data describing the size and growth of the universe of scholarship, its global reach, how much of it is accessible free of charge on the internet and the rate at which that share is growing. Open Access together with development programs aimed at reducing price barriers to subscription journals have vastly increased the possibilities for accessing research in the South. The relevance to globalization and development is explored conceptually and revealed in the results.

This dissertation proposes an initial framework for designing and presenting exhibits in science centers and to recommend methods for improving the educational role of planetariums in science centers.

Two centuries after the printing press was invented, the first scholarly journal appeared in 1665. Less than two decades after the journal went online, the digital format is reshaping scholarly communication rapidly. We are moving quickly towards an open system of scholarship, and from a Western heritage of print scholarship to a future of global knowledge, a shift driven by the communications revolution. This thesis provides data describing the size and growth of the universe of scholarship, its global reach, how much of it is accessible free of charge on the internet and the rate at which that share is growing. Open Access together with development programs aimed at reducing price barriers to subscription journals have vastly increased the possibilities for accessing research in the South. The relevance to globalization and development is explored conceptually and revealed in the results.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Rutgers University, 1996. / eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (p. 232-247).

Submitted by Isac Macêdo (isac@ioc.fiocruz.br) on 2013-11-04T17:28:59Z No. of bitstreams: 1 MA 2004 - Ana Julia Calazans Duarte.pdf: 4888774 bytes, checksum: b65425bfb67f1db9f0955e0122a22fdc (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2013-11-04T17:28:59Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 MA 2004 - Ana Julia Calazans Duarte.pdf: 4888774 bytes, checksum: b65425bfb67f1db9f0955e0122a22fdc (MD5) / Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil. / O objetivo deste trabalho foi investigar como se dá a cobertura de ciência em suplementos infantis de jornais impressos no Brasil. Selecionamos os jornais O Globo e Folha de S. Paulo, os dois principais jornais em circulação no país, com seus suplementos Globinho e Folhinha, respectivamente. Nossa análise incluiu os textos com temática científica publicados ao longo de um ano (2008), num total de 314. Após a análise dos textos e imagens que formam o corpus da pesquisa, realizamos entrevistas com editores e repórteres dos dois suplementos para esclarecer os processos de produção do material estudado. Os resultados apontam que os dois suplementos, embora não sejam especializados em ciência, constituem importantes veículos de divulgação científica para o público infantil, destacando-se, sobretudo, as ciências biológicas e humanas. Ambos assumem como missão apresentar os temas científicos de forma desafiadora e que desperte a curiosidade das crianças, sem tratar os conteúdos de maneira excessivamente simplória. Porém, raramente apresentam aos leitores os riscos e questões controversas da ciência, que poderiam suscitar um debate mais profundo acerca das pesquisas científicas.leitores os riscos e questões controversas da ciência, que poderiam suscitar um debate mais profundo acerca das pesquisas científicas. / This study explores science coverage in the children’s supplements of Brazil’s two main newspapers for the elite classes, O Globo and Folha de S. Paulo. The corpus comprised texts containing science topics that were published in the two supplements (Globinho and Folhinha, respectively) during a one-year period (2008),comprising a total of 314 news pieces. Following analysis of these texts and their images, the editors and reporters assigned to the two supplements were interviewed about the processes involved in producing the material under study. Findings suggest that although neither supplement specializes in science communication per se, they are both valuable vehicles for conveying information on science topics to a young audience, primarily on the biological and human sciences. Both state their mission is to present science topics in a way that challenges and sparks the curiosity of their readerships, without using overly simplistic approaches to communicate content. Yet they rarely inform their readers about the risks or controversies associated with science, something that might encourage a more in-depth debate about scientific research.

abstract: The academic literature on science communication widely acknowledges a problem: science communication between experts and lay audiences is important, but it is not done well. General audience popular science books, however, carry a reputation for clear science communication and are understudied in the academic literature. For this doctoral dissertation, I utilize Sam Harris's The Moral Landscape, a general audience science book on the particularly thorny topic of neuroscientific approaches to morality, as a case-study to explore the possibility of using general audience science books as models for science communication more broadly. I conduct a literary analysis of the text that delimits the scope of its project, its intended audience, and the domains of science to be communicated. I also identify seven literary aspects of the text: three positive aspects that facilitate clarity and four negative aspects that interfere with lay public engagement. I conclude that The Moral Landscape relies on an assumed knowledge base and intuitions of its audience that cannot reasonably be expected of lay audiences; therefore, it cannot properly be construed as popular science communication. It nevertheless contains normative lessons for the broader science project, both in literary aspects to be salvaged and literary aspects and concepts to consciously be avoided and combated. I note that The Moral Landscape's failings can also be taken as an indication that typical descriptions of science communication offer under-detailed taxonomies of both audiences for science communication and the varieties of science communication aimed at those audiences. Future directions of study include rethinking appropriate target audiences for science literacy projects and developing a more discriminating taxonomy of both science communication and lay publics. / Dissertation/Thesis / Ph.D. Biology 2013

Two centuries after the printing press was invented, the first scholarly journal appeared in 1665. Less than two decades after the journal went online, the digital format is reshaping scholarly communication rapidly. We are moving quickly towards an open system of scholarship, and from a Western heritage of print scholarship to a future of global knowledge, a shift driven by the communications revolution. This thesis provides data describing the size and growth of the universe of scholarship, its global reach, how much of it is accessible free of charge on the internet and the rate at which that share is growing. Open Access together with development programs aimed at reducing price barriers to subscription journals have vastly increased the possibilities for accessing research in the South. The relevance to globalization and development is explored conceptually and revealed in the results.