tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2736655900207355526.post6903035031691991777..comments2014-02-27T08:03:40.643-08:00Comments on Humanists4Science: Spreading science's valuesEpiphenomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05420404206189437710noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2736655900207355526.post-52946336687546542482012-05-12T14:09:23.882-07:002012-05-12T14:09:23.882-07:00This is an excellent rebuttal of the idea that sci...This is an excellent rebuttal of the idea that science is (or should be) value free.Julian Bennetthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05766191169973968594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2736655900207355526.post-23297192405261426452012-04-24T02:26:40.157-07:002012-04-24T02:26:40.157-07:00A discussion of values is also what the public dem...A discussion of values is also what the public demands of scientists - the Public Attitudes to Science 2011 study (which I worked on as a member of the Ipsos MORI research team) found that two-thirds (65%) of UK adults "would like scientists to spend more time than they do discussing the social and ethical implications of their research with the general public".<br /><br />Yesterday, Taverne said this perhaps wasn't necessary (in response to Sir Roland Jackson) because scientists are already among the most trusted professions, so they don't need to start talking about their values to gain public trust. However, people may say they trust "scientists" as a broad group, but don't always trust the science (e.g. GM, nuclear power etc) or the institutions that scientists work for (which, as Taverne pointed out, overrides the trust in scientists themselves). One way scientists can overcome this, as public dialogues have shown, is to talk about their values, their enthusiasm for their work and the principles underpinning this - so talking more about these values is of utmost importance.Jayesh Navin Shahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13738625813433639078noreply@blogger.com