Science for the People Magazine Vol. 16, No. 4
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about this issue This special issue of SCIENCE for the PEOPLE Watchdog Role. Documenting startling cases of sensa comes at a time of tremendous growth in science cover tionalism and distortion, Beckwith points clearly to age by the mainstream media. In addition to the main where many peoples' biased notions of genetic influen stay of popular science magazines, many major news ces on behavior hail from. papers have added regular science sections. Science In her article Whose Health and Welfare: The Press stories make up a greater portion of televison and radio and Occupational Health, Chris Anne Raymond draws news items than ever before; even science-related book upon a large research project to look at the differences publishing is on the increase, as can be seen especially in in the portrayal of occupational health and safety - the myriad of nuclear war-related books. and in fact all labor issues - between the mainstream There is good reason for such a surge. The inescap media and the advocacy press. As might be expected, able fact is that science plays an increasingly important these differences run deep. role in our lives, from President Reagan's star wars mili Finally, Seth Shulman, along with some members tary schemes, to plans to irradiate our produce. It is in of the editorial committee, takes a brief foray into the many ways heartening that people are realizing the im world of popular science magazines, perhaps illumin portance of such issues. But how are these issues por ating more than anything else what sets Science for the trayed? While people are receiving an ever larger dose of People apart. science-related material in the media, just what, in fact, On this last point: while we have changed a great are they receiving? These are some of the questions that deal over the past fifteen years of our existence, certain we started with in planning for this special issue on fundamental things have solidly remained. We are still "Science, Media and Policymaking." published by a collective with branches around the From the beginning, we were interested in the ways country. This loose group is made up of both concerned in which science, media and policymaking fit together. members of the scientific community and laypeople It was our initial premise that the portrayal of science alike, all of whom donate their time to put out a periodi issues in the mainstream media is important not only in cal which not only looks hard and critically at the role and of itself, but also for the significant role this cover science plays in our society, but also tries to present al age plays in shaping our notions of science, and in turn, ternatives. These goals cannot be overstressed in a spe science policymaking. The findings presented in this cial issue on science, media and policymaking. Largely issue can lay the groundwork for future discussion of because of this solid foundation, we never, to draw this much underreported topic. upon Barbara Beckwith's title, abdicate our watchdog David Dickson, in an excerpt from his forthcoming role, only work to sharpen our perspective. book, The New Politics of Science, outlines what he terms a "democratic strategy for science." Taking a de tailed look at the forces that have shaped the major cri New from the Science for the People tiques of science since World War II, Dickson calls for Sociobiology Study group: coalition building to more effectively address the IIOLOGY AS DESIINY: BIOLOGY AS DEmNY: Sctenllftc Fact or Social Bias? breadth of science and science policy issues which con Scientific Fact or Social Bias? front the left today. With this as an overview of where to go from here, This important collection of articles ranges from the story of the Ameri the rest of the articles deal directly with where we are can Eugenics movement at the now ... and why. Each looks closely at a specific area of turn of the century, to the current coverage by the media. Brett Silverstein uncovers one controversy over gender and math ability. These readings are an ex vital area in his article Statistical Propaganda and the cellent resource for the study of the Nuclear Arms Race. Gleaning examples from main relationship of science to social stream sources such as The New York Times and News issues. week, Silverstein highlights the numerous ways in which $4.00 per copy (1-10) statistics are manipulated. $3.50 per copy (11-20) $3.00 per copy (More than 20) Barbara Beckwith looks at "genes-and-gender send with payment to: science" coverage in her article How Magazines Cover Science for the People, 897 Main St., Cambridge, MA 02139 Sex Difference Research: Journalism Abdicates its 2 Science for the People July/August 1984 Vol. 16 No.4 TOWARDS A DEMOCRATIC STRATEGY 6 FOR SCIENCE by David Dickson The new politics of science. STATISTICAL PROPAGANDA AND THE 12 NUCLEAR ARMS RACE by Brett Silverstein FEATURES: Comparisons and the art of confusion. HOW MAGAZINES COVER SEX DIFFERENCE 18 RESEARCH by Barbara Beckwith A look at popular coverage of "genes-and-gender" research. COVER: Photo compilation WHOSE HEALTH AND WELFARE? 24 by Seth Shulman. by Chris Anne Raymond The press and occupational health. SftP LOOKS AT POPULAR SCIENCE 30 MAGAZINES by Seth Shulman "Gee whiz" and beyond. DEPARTMENTS: About this Issue 2 Book Review 32 Newsnotes 4 Against the State Resources 34 of Nuclear Terror Science for the People is published bi Box 2783, Boston, MA 02208. The maga Editorial Committee: Sharon Cooperman, monthly by the Science Resource Center, zine is available on microfilm from Xerox Dana Collier, Roger Felix, David Good Inc., a.non-profit corporation. The magazine Microfilms, 300 North Zeeb Rd., Ann Arbor, man, Tarry Hum, Liz Layton, Joseph is edited and produced by the national Ml 48109. Science for the People is indexed Regna, Amy Shire, Seth Shulman, Cathy organization Science for the People. Our in Alternative Press Index, P.O. Box 7229, Wenthe. address is 897 Main St., Cambridge, MA Baltimore, MD 21218. Science for the Peo Production Committee: Sharon 02139; our phone number is (617) 547- ple's ISSN (International Standard Serial Cooperman, Roger Felix, David Goodman, 0370. We offer a progressive view of sci Number) is: 0048-9662. Liz Layton, Roberta Leibovitz, Sam Pilato, ence and technology, covering a broad Joseph Regna, Sholeh Regna, Virginia range of issues. We welcome contributions Subscription rates (tor one year/six Schaefer, Amy Shire, Sarah Shulman, of all kinds; articles, letters, book reviews, issues): $15 (regular base rate), foreign sur Seth Shulman, Ellen Stone, Cathy artwork, cartoons, news notes, etc. If possi face mail add $5; foreign air mail subscrip Wenthe. ble, please type manuscripts (double spac tion rates as follows, reflecting differences ed) and send three copies. Be sure to keep in mailing costs: to Canada add $5.50, to Magazine Coordinator: Seth Shulman. one copy for yourself. Unless otherwise Latin America add $9.50, to Europe add Magazine Business Manager: Gary Keenan. stated, all material in this magazine is copy $13.00, to Asia/Africa add $16.50; institu Circulation Coordinator: Richard Aichelmann. right 1984 by Science for the People. Type tional/library rate: $24; member subscrip Distribution Coordinator: Carol Ann Johnson. setting at Platform Studio, 636 Beacon St., tion $25. Member subscribers receive the Fundraising Coordinator: Connie Phillips. Boston, MA 02215. (617) 424-1497. magazine, our newsletter and other internal Outreach Coordinator: Jon Beckwith. communications. Foreign subscribers must Production Coordinators: Dana Collier, Bookstores may order on consignment remit in $U.S. with either an International Gerry Waneck directly from Science for the People or Money Order or a check drawn on a U.S. Material Requests: Jim Barton through Carrier Pigeon Distributors, P.O. bank. Interns: Sarah Bassett, Wendy Dunne. July/Aug 1984 3 ~news notes Lane, Rockville, MD 20857. If you do Tampon Regulation at Impasse send a letter, also make a copy and send it to Woman Health International, so that they may keep records of their sup After two years of intensive negotia the risk involved in using tampons im port. tions with the tampon industry, a nation properly. wide coalition of women's health and The tampon task force continues to consumer organizations has reached an meet, although many members of the That's Capitalism. impasse in their effort to draft voluntary coalition question how much farther standards for tampon manufacture and they can go without the manufacturers' labeling. In a recent letter to Dr. Mark cooperation. The task force has urged "ST. GEORGE'S, GRENADA-A the FDA to convene a scientific panel to U.S. firm has been awarded a contract to propose a research agenda for the study help complete Grenada's half-built air of tampons and vaginal health, and to port at Point Salines, where Cuban lab mandate a standard for tampon absor orers exchanged fire last October with bency labeling. But at press time there U.S. and Caribbean troops. The U.S. has been no progress, and there appears Embassy said representatives of the U.S. no guarantee that the requests will be Agency for International Development granted. Woman Health International signed a $2.8 million agreement last Fri urges everyone to write to the FDA to day with Morrison-Knudsen Interna support their efforts, and ask for a scien tional, which is based in Idaho. Con tific panel to study all effects of tampons gress has appropriated about $19 million on vaginal health. Letters should be ad of the $24 million needed to put the air dressed to Dr. Mark Novich, acting com port into full-time operation by the end missioner of the FDA, 5600 Fishers of October." -Boston Globe, 5/27/84 Novich, acting commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, mem bers of the coalition cited manufac turers' continued unwillingness to Feed, Need, Greed Update disclose contents of the tampons as the major obstacle to the development of Several years ago SftP's Food and Nu Joan Wolter of Beckett Academy told performance standards.