Brian Cox: It's not acceptable to promote bad science

Thanks, Bags, he always talks so much sense. I am glad he is on 'our' side - he is lovely! I find it a bit hard to follow on my computer as the sound is not great - I wonder if I can find a printed version anywhere?

Check out the Institute of Physics, G. I'll have a look too.

DH and I listened to it together and chuckled a lot. DH said: "I love the idea of faith-based aviation!"

Brilliant Bags. I've heard Brian Cox talk on this subject before and yesterday I listened to a discussion on Radio 4 between a doctor and the editor of Top Sante, who claims her magazine reports scientific findings accurately and responsibly. The doctor chronicled all the silly reports and daft headlines she had let through, such as 'lie in the sun and get rid of diabetes' and a story about someone who had a bizarre eating regime, including drinking diluted bleach, which got rid of her cancer. The editor defended the magazine, saying the diabetes story was from America (so were several others they discussed) and written by her, and the bleach story was the woman's own account, so it wasn't scientific. She didn't seem to understand the need for reporting responsibly, or putting in an overview from a doctor's or scientist's standpoint.

there!......managed to give an example of crap reporting without mentioning the Daily Mail!

Thanks, Bags, I will do that.

YES! Geraldine - we really should have a Science forum, please

Great - found lots of his lectures! Don't out me if I use some of his ideas in future threads!

Thank you GNHQ!

He looks like one of the Monkees.

You sure he's grown-up.

JO4 Just because he's ugly and has a silly haircut, doesn't mean that he isn't an adult scientist with a considerable reputation.

He'snot ugly!!! I think he's cute but is he old enough to be out without his mum ?

gracesmum Ugliness, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. Either way, it is isn't relevant to his capacity as a physicist and communicator.

Ah, now that's where Mary Beard was criticised wasn't she? Good question - is a person's appearance relevant to their capacity as a commmunicator in a medium such as TV?

When someone is interesting and explains something you want to know about in a clear understandable way, I think you tend not to notice their appearance. It's when they are not clear or have irritating mannerisms that you start losing attention and commenting on the size of their nose or their appalling taste in shirts. (That last sentence has no relevance to Professor Cox.)

Jingle, darling, have you listened to the speech in that link? You can even listen without looking and then your finer sensibilities won't be offended, but your mind might be entertained.

I love watching and listening to him. His enthusiasm is contagious and he makes me want to find out more.

He's not ugly!

Laters Bags (lunch at garden centre coming up)

Some of this was beyond my understanding, but what I really enjoyed was how he used humour to promote his belief in the necessity of (society) understanding Scientific Method. I thoroughly enjoyed that aspect of his speech. I liked his clear delivery, too. Had a giggle over Homeopathic Petrol - - and also the faith based aviation comment.

Thanks Bags that was very interesting.
Brian Cox has a way of getting very serious points over that is both charming and easy to understand.
I love the medicine or pot pourri quote from Dara O'Brien, who is also a very interesting man, well versed in physics and maths. I watched his programmes on maths v comedy. they were also very good.
As for Brian Cox, I don't know if this is physics or chemistry, but I find him very easy to listen too and very easy on the eye.

I don't know anything about the Sciences really - my brain copes more with the Arts; however, I could develop an interest in biology if Brian Cox is involved . He is old enough to go out without his mother (44). He is so keen and I love his voice - he isn't bad looking either - oh to be 30 years younger (heart emoticon)

His appearance is a bonus! Now why did I not meet a man like that when I was younger?

Well the Monkees were teenager idols in the 60s so can't be bad, Dr Cox. Bit of a pop idol himself as well - multi talented chap from Oldham.
Won't listen to this now as waiting for my car to be repaired and they have at last started work on it... But thank you bags
Still, there is free tea and wifi even if they are proceeding at glacial pace.
But YES it is terribly irresponsible to keep publcising Bad Science and Pseudoscience. Most of it is about health. To me bad science is when you leap from one little experiment on a dish of cells, or 6 mice, to the headline "Curry cures cancer" or something like that.
Pseudoscience is things like "quantum healing" "energy pendants" and potions of various kinds, including homeopathy - complete and utter rubbish using scientific language to gull people. Ironic as they are busily rejecting science at the same time as stealing scientific words for marketing purposes.
The magazine on the R4 prog was not Top Sante by the way when , it was a mag/website called What Doctors Don't Tell You. Bad science. Very very bad science which all the time asserts that their articles are 'evidence based'. The editor had written an article about the cervical cancer vaccine that was full of mistakes. (For example saying that the vaccine had caused lots of deaths - wrong - and that it would only save 40 lives a year - wrong, the figure should have been 400)
Look up Mark Porter on the BBC website if you want to listen again. And Dr MP surprisingly handsome wouldn't you say?
The editor in question has this week started a legal case against the anti-bad-science-writer Simon Singh for criticising her mag. I wonder if, after the drubbing she received from Dr Margaret Mccartney on that programme, she is thinking of suing the BBC too! It is interesting stragegy for those who are claiming to be evidence based and trying to pretend they have scientific credibility to start suing those who disagree with them. If they were really of a scientific persuasion they would accept challenge and debate as part of the territory.

We may have listened to different items Jess. It was definitely Top Sante. The editor is Sharon Parsons, who has an annoying North American twangy accent. I've just looked her up - she also writes for the DM! Says it all