Voodoo Science

A few years back I came across an interesting book. It was titled "Voodoo science: The road from foolishness to fraud". It was written by Robert L Park, who was then the spokesperson of American Physical Society. It was a collection of Park's essays in popular media, where he responded to various pseudo-science claims by individuals (mostly inventors of perpetual motion machines), corporations, and the American law itself.

It was an interesting book to read. But there is more to it than just
reading, in the Indian context.

1. Park, a professor from Maryland University, chose to respond to pertinent
issues and he used the professional body of American physicists,
to educate the general public.

In India, we have three different association for almost the same set of scientists.
They have annual meetings, and a few inconsequential public lectures
on topics similar to 'effect of lead on a certain variety of rat found
in tropical forests of ...' . In my experience
They never challenge/dispute/contribute to any issues even when
they pertain to science policy, science education, or scientific outlook.

Indian scientists see themselves as a part of an aristocracy, well secluded
from the general public. They perhaps see it beneath their dignity to
respond to day-to-day issues, and to offer down-to-earth explanations
to the layman.
(P Balram of IISc sometimes writes on issues of general interest,
but he often write
in journals that are meant for scientists or science students.
They do not reach the general public).

This in turn has helped people and organisations, fools or frauds,
to think that they can make any type theories/assertions/claims, and
get away with it. This also has resulted in our lack
of role models for science.

2. A consequence of this is apathy of Indian media towards science.
We often hear about our own achievements when it is first reported
in Newyork times. One remembers the discovery of the algorithm to determine
the irrational numbers a few years back by students of IIT-Kanpur.
It made news in India after it was reported in US.

American and British media
regards science journalism very seriously. They place it very competent
hands, often people with doctoral degrees in science, handles science
sections in these newspapers. Simon Singh joined BBC after finishing
his PhD in particle physics from Cambridge.

In India I found only one science journalist worth reading.
R Ramachandran who
occasionally writes for Hindu and Frontline.
Ramachnadran does his own research, meets people,
before he write an article.

Most of our science writers use internet and fill their articles
with loads of freely available information. They are still better than
nothing. Many of our news papers may not even have science editors, or even if they have, they are inconsequential people.

In Malayalam there are some old professors, and some writers who had
brief stints in research institutes writing random stuff
and pseudo philosophical reflections copied from various
authors and books, and pass it as science article.
There usually are some interesting and original stuff in them,
but as someone said, what is interesting is not original,
and what is original is actually rotten.
Mathrubhumi publishes them often, with pictures of english books
and some photographs of random englishmen mentioned in the
article.

Well, everyone gets old and senile. If you have not done anything
significant in life, you end up writing such stuff for Mathrubhumi.

Apart from the above mentioned rather poor exceptions,
science journalism in India revolves around child prodigies,
incredible exaggerations, and just plain stupidity or fraud.

3. Is there hope for science in India ?

Science in India, whether it is research, science education,
science awareness, or scientific outlook, is in bad shape now.
Most of our research output is just plain trash except a few jewels once in a while.

A meaningful change will come only when scientists become ambassedors
of the pursuit they are after, and take time to communicate to
the common man- not only within the narrow limits of their research,
but in general issues related to scientific outlook.

I think that is the only way true science become more visible,
scientists become more visible, pseudo scientific nonsense
get to stop, and the best of the men get attracted to science.

Let Robert L Park be the inspiration for our scientists.

[This was my response to the following blogs: nerd, pappoos, and suchand ]