Dr Evil
By Sarah Gillham
Frankenstein, mice with human ears and purple tomatoes, fact is slowly blurring in to fiction; and these days the public are given little help in deciphering between the two.
The stereotypical image of the mad scientist – an Einstein look-alike sprouting a nest of frizzy white hair rising up to a halo style bald patch, sporting thick rimmed glasses, a mischievous/evil grin and surrounded by bubbling chemicals, probably does not help the misconception that some of us may have of the science geeks working around the clock to bring about the latest developments and findings in the bioscience industry. (Stereotypes that look nothing like me - Prof.)
‘The relationship between science, engineering and society is a difficult one, and the public are often suspicious’ says Tony Ryan, ICI Professor of Physical Chemistry, at the White Rose Bioscience Forum in York.
This was indicated in the outcome of the GM (Genetic Modification) debate where the public made their scepticism towards this issue clear, subsequently winning the debate. This has meant that many potentially beneficial advances within the bioscience industry have been ‘stopped in their tracks’ apparently due to mismanagement and lack of communication and public awareness. After all, a certain amount of taxpayer’s money goes towards funding for research, which highlights the importance of gaining the publics trust and understanding.
Professor Ryan believes that issues such as the energy crisis, arguably one of the most important issues facing the world, and to which ‘bioscience holds the key’ are in need of greater communication.
It seems that ‘bioscience can’t help save the world without communicating it’, however, this is a dilemma he is trying to put right.
One scientific advancement completely lost on me is that of the previously mentioned purple tomatoes. Not available to the public for another good few years, they have been specifically developed to contain the same cancer fighting pigment as blueberries. I just don’t quite understand the necessity for all this work, when for the same effect, I could just eat.....hmm let me think about it...... maybe blueberries?
The stereotypical image of the mad scientist – an Einstein look-alike sprouting a nest of frizzy white hair rising up to a halo style bald patch, sporting thick rimmed glasses, a mischievous/evil grin and surrounded by bubbling chemicals, probably does not help the misconception that some of us may have of the science geeks working around the clock to bring about the latest developments and findings in the bioscience industry. (Stereotypes that look nothing like me - Prof.)
‘The relationship between science, engineering and society is a difficult one, and the public are often suspicious’ says Tony Ryan, ICI Professor of Physical Chemistry, at the White Rose Bioscience Forum in York.
This was indicated in the outcome of the GM (Genetic Modification) debate where the public made their scepticism towards this issue clear, subsequently winning the debate. This has meant that many potentially beneficial advances within the bioscience industry have been ‘stopped in their tracks’ apparently due to mismanagement and lack of communication and public awareness. After all, a certain amount of taxpayer’s money goes towards funding for research, which highlights the importance of gaining the publics trust and understanding.
Professor Ryan believes that issues such as the energy crisis, arguably one of the most important issues facing the world, and to which ‘bioscience holds the key’ are in need of greater communication.
It seems that ‘bioscience can’t help save the world without communicating it’, however, this is a dilemma he is trying to put right.
One scientific advancement completely lost on me is that of the previously mentioned purple tomatoes. Not available to the public for another good few years, they have been specifically developed to contain the same cancer fighting pigment as blueberries. I just don’t quite understand the necessity for all this work, when for the same effect, I could just eat.....hmm let me think about it...... maybe blueberries?
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