scholarly journals A UFO OVER A PLANETARIUM: EPISTEMOLOGICAL PROPAGANDA AND ALTERNATIVE FORMS OF KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE OUTER SPACE IN THE USSR, 1940s–1960s

2021 ◽  
pp. 5-16
Author(s):  
A. V. Golubev ◽  
◽  
Keyword(s):  
World War Ii ◽  
Scientific Knowledge ◽  
Scientific Literacy ◽  
Science Communication ◽  
Outer Space ◽  
Popular Science ◽  
Internal Conflict ◽  
Illustrative Case ◽  
World War ◽  
The Public

The article examines the origins and development of narratives about historical and present-day contacts with al-ien civilizations (ufology) in the USSR after World War II. The current research literature usually interprets ufology as a form of quasi-religious and mythological thinking, yet my study of the genealogy of Soviet ufology demon-strates that the development of alternative knowledge about the outer space was a by-product of the state-sponsored propaganda of scientific knowledge. This relationship suggests that the common understanding of the public com-munication of science as a mere tool for the transfer of knowledge from experts (scholars) to the public is simplistic and misleading. By bringing together science popularizers and broad audiences in a communication chain, the postWWII Soviet mass scientific literacy campaign required the former to mater new narrative forms to appeal to the latter. The narrativization of science for its public communication means that popular science genres exist in a rhetor-ical and literary context, rather than belonging to the domain of the production and verification of scientific knowledge. This makes stories and their structural elements (plot development, internal conflict, and the hierarchy of characters) a key aspect of science communication. Consequently, a history of ufology in the post-World War II USSR serves as an illustrative case revealing how the epistemological polyphony and diversity emerged in late Sovi-et society

The Homely Sublime in Space Science Documentary Films: Domesticating the Feeling of Homelessness in Carl Sagan’s Cosmos and its Sequel

2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (54) ◽  
pp. 24-35
Author(s):  
Kornelia Boczkowska
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
New York City ◽  
World War Ii ◽  
Outer Space ◽  
Popular Science ◽  
Space Science ◽  
Documentary Films ◽  
World War ◽  
Frontier Myth ◽  
Post War

The paper discusses the ways of domesticating the feeling of sublime homelessness when contemplating the realm of outer space in Carl Sagan’s revolutionary television series Cosmos: A Personal Voyage (1980) and its present-day sequel Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey (2014) hosted by Neil deGrasse Tyson. Following World War II, a novel trend emerged in the science documentary film fueled by “popular science boom” or the “post-war bonanza” (Gregory and Miller, 37) and characterized by a gradual tendency to move toward more complicated representational extremes. Its form, best exemplified by the late 1970s and 1980s space science documentaries, relied on the scientist-hosted and stunningly realist format as well as a mediated experience of the astronomical and dynamic sublime. Partly contrary to this conception, the new ways of deriving spectator’s pleasure also involved both domesticating and trivializing the productions’ content, observable in references to domestic surroundings as well as familiar cultural and historical conventions, such as the frontier myth or urban sublime of New York City. The paper argues that examined documentaries, seen as multimedia spectacles, tend to domesticate outer space through reconciling the cosmic sublime with the notion of a homely, lived-in place.

scholarly journals Imagining GMOs: The Chinese public's scientific perception in the digital age

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 241-253
Author(s):  
Zijing Xu ◽  
Ye Lu
Keyword(s):  
Scientific Knowledge ◽  
Scientific Literacy ◽  
Science Communication ◽  
Genetically Modified Organisms ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Scientific Uncertainty ◽  
The Public ◽  
Other Information ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Depth Interviews

This exploratory study, which is based on the basic concepts of science communication, conducted in-depth interviews to examine the Chinese public's perceptions of and attitudes towards genetically modified organisms (GMOs). We found that, while scientific knowledge may to some extent be a differentiating factor in attitudes to GMOs, people are subject to significant influence from other information sources. Besides scientific knowledge and scientific literacy, the perception of risks in three dimensions—scientific uncertainty, food safety and conspiracy theories—forms an individual's affective framework for understanding GMOs. The trust framework, which is the regulating mechanism of perception and attitude, plays different roles through institutional trust and interpersonal trust. These tentative conclusions shed new light on how science communication should build the relationship between science and the public in the age of globalization and digitalization.

The Suffering of the Perpetrators: The Ethics of Traumatic German Historicity in Karen Bass's Young Adult World War II Novels

2014 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 64-77
Author(s):  
Doris Wolf
Keyword(s):  
World War Ii ◽  
Young Adult ◽  
Public Sphere ◽  
Childhood Studies ◽  
Historical Narratives ◽  
World War ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Past ◽  
Adult World ◽  
The Public Sphere

This paper examines two young adult novels, Run Like Jäger (2008) and Summer of Fire (2009), by Canadian writer Karen Bass, which centre on the experiences of so-called ordinary German teenagers in World War II. Although guilt and perpetration are themes addressed in these books, their focus is primarily on the ways in which Germans suffered at the hands of the Allied forces. These books thus participate in the increasingly widespread but still controversial subject of the suffering of the perpetrators. Bringing work in childhood studies to bear on contemporary representations of German wartime suffering in the public sphere, I explore how Bass's novels, through the liminal figure of the adolescent, participate in a culture of self-victimisation that downplays guilt rather than more ethically contextualises suffering within guilt. These historical narratives are framed by contemporary narratives which centre on troubled teen protagonists who need the stories of the past for their own individualisation in the present. In their evacuation of crucial historical contexts, both Run Like Jäger and Summer of Fire support optimistic and gendered narratives of individualism that ultimately refuse complicated understandings of adolescent agency in the past or present.

The Roots of Global Health Inequity

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joia S. Mukherjee
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
World War Ii ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
Economic Policies ◽  
World War ◽  
The Public ◽  
The World Bank ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
The Cold War ◽  
The Impact

This chapter outlines the historical roots of health inequities. It focuses on the African continent, where life expectancy is the shortest and health systems are weakest. The chapter describes the impoverishment of countries by colonial powers, the development of the global human rights framework in the post-World War II era, the impact of the Cold War on African liberation struggles, and the challenges faced by newly liberated African governments to deliver health care through the public sector. The influence of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund’s neoliberal economic policies is also discussed. The chapter highlights the shift from the aspiration of “health for all” voiced at the Alma Ata Conference on Primary Health Care in 1978, to the more narrowly defined “selective primary health care.” Finally, the chapter explains the challenges inherent in financing health in impoverished countries and how user fees became standard practice.

THE PEDIATRICIAN AND THE PUBLIC

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1955 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 479-487
Author(s):  
John A. Askin ◽  
Kurt Glaser
Keyword(s):  
World War Ii ◽  
World War I ◽  
Old Testament ◽  
Jewish People ◽  
Jewish State ◽  
World War ◽  
The Public ◽  
Short Period ◽  
State Of Israel ◽  
Made In

IN SPITE of a short period of sovereignty— less than 7 years—the State of Israel is playing an important role in matters pertaining not only to the Middle East but, in some respects, in matters of importance to the whole world. In medicine the advances in Israel have been no less striking than the progress made in other fields. It is felt that the pediatricians of our country might be interested to learn about Israel's medical status, particularly pertaining to pediatrics. Palestine, of which the present Israel is a part, was in Old Testament times known as Canaan or Philistia because of the tribes which lived there. Palestine was the home of the Jewish people from the time Joshua conquered the land, about 1400 B.C., until the Romans destroyed the Jewish State in the year 70 A.D. Around 630 A.D. the country came under Moslem power. From 1516 to the end of World War I Palestine was a part of the Turkish Empire. In 1917, the British Government issued the famous Balfour Declaration which promised the Jews of the world that they could build a national homeland in Palestine. The League of Nations made the land a British mandate in 1920. From then until World War II Palestine was at several occasions plunged into violent civil war between the Jews and the Arabs. After World War II in 1947 Great Britain announced a decision to give up the Mandate.

The public image of women in post-Taliban Afghanistan

2021 ◽  
pp. 44-49
Author(s):  
Dr Rose Fazli ◽  
Dr Anahita Seifi
Keyword(s):  
World War Ii ◽  
Political Development ◽  
Public Image ◽  
World War ◽  
Afghan Women ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Common ◽  
The One ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Afghan Woman

The present article is an attempt to offer the concept of political development from a novel perspective and perceive the Afghan Women image in accordance with the aforementioned viewpoint. To do so, first many efforts have been made to elucidate the author’s outlook as it contrasts with the classic stance of the concept of power and political development by reviewing the literature in development and particularly political development during the previous decades. For example Post-World War II approaches to political development which consider political development, from the Hobbesian perspective toward power, as one of the functions of government. However in a different view of power, political development found another place when it has been understood via postmodern approaches, it means power in a network of relationships, not limited to the one-way relationship between ruler and obedient. Therefore newer concept and forces find their way on political development likewise “image” as a considerable social, political and cultural concept and women as the new force. Then, the meaning of “image” as a symbolic one portraying the common universal aspect is explained. The Afghan woman image emphasizing the historic period of 2001 till now is scrutinized both formally and informally and finally the relationship between this reproduced image of Afghan women and Afghanistan political development from a novel perspective of understanding is represented.

Raising Intelligence Levels of the Mentally Retarded: An Overlooked Educo-Legal Implication

1975 ◽  
Vol 157 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
John M. Throne
Keyword(s):  
World War Ii ◽  
Public Schools ◽  
Child Welfare ◽  
Mentally Retarded ◽  
Public Schooling ◽  
World War ◽  
University Of Iowa ◽  
The Public ◽  
The University ◽  
Legal Implication

Studies by investigators at the University of Iowa Child Welfare Station before World War II demonstrated that the intelligence levels of the mentally retarded could be raised, often up to and beyond normalcy (IQ 100). Yet, the implications were never seriously followed up on anything approaching a broad-gauged scale. The juridical climate now supports the position that, because the evidence is that all the retarded can learn under proper conditions, they are all entitled to public schooling. It is suggested that the public schools may soon be confronted with an even more far-reaching educo-legal thrust based on the kind of evidence first reported by the Iowa investigators; that is, the public schools have a responsibility not only to educate or train the retarded to achieve their retarded potentialities, but to increase those potentialities, i.e., raise their intelligence levels.

scholarly journals Why Should Scientists be on YouTube? It’s all About Bamboo, Oil and Ice Cream

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric B. Brennan
Keyword(s):  
Scientific Literacy ◽  
Visual Communication ◽  
Science Communication ◽  
Scientific Information ◽  
Ice Cream ◽  
Communication Tools ◽  
The Public ◽  
Communications Skills ◽  
Do It Yourself ◽  
Diverse Groups

Scientific information is a key ingredient needed to tackle global challenges like climate change, but to do this it must be communicated in ways that are accessible to diverse groups, and that go beyond traditional methods (peer-reviewed publications). For decades there have been calls for scientists to improve their communication skills—with each other and the public—but, this problem persists. During this time there have been astonishing changes in the visual communication tools available to scientists. I see video as the next step in this evolution. In this paper I highlight three major changes in the visual communication tools over the past 100 years, and use three memorable items—bamboo, oil and ice cream—and analogies and metaphors to explain why and how Do-it-Yourself (DIY) videos made by scientists, and shared on YouTube, can radically improve science communication and engagement. I also address practical questions for scientists to consider as they learn to make videos, and organize and manage them on YouTube. DIY videos are not a silver bullet that will automatically improve science communication, but they can help scientists to 1) reflect on and improve their communications skills, 2) tell stories about their research with interesting visuals that augment their peer-reviewed papers, 3) efficiently connect with and inspire broad audiences including future scientists, 4) increase scientific literacy, and 5) reduce misinformation. Becoming a scientist videographer or scientist DIY YouTuber can be an enjoyable, creative, worthwhile and fulfilling activity that can enhance many aspects of a scientist’s career.

scholarly journals Who Reads Shashi? The Case of the Hiroshima Regional Newspaper

2012 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ann Sherif
Keyword(s):  
World War Ii ◽  
World War ◽  
International Media ◽  
The Public ◽  
Nuclear Age ◽  
History Of ◽  
Key Events ◽  
Regional Newspaper ◽  
Self Presentations

The company history of a newspaper company raises new questions about the genre of company histories. Who reads them? What features should readers and researchers be aware of when using them as a source? This article examines the shashi of the Chûgoku Shinbun, the Hiroshima regional newspaper. The atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945 were significant because of their perceived role in bringing World War II to an end and in signaling the start of the nuclear age. Most research to date has emphasized the role of national newspapers and the international media in informing the public about the extent of the damage and generating a framework within which to understand. I compare the representation of three key events in the Chûgoku Shinbun company history (shashi) to those in two national newspapers (Asahi and Yomiuri), as well as the ways that the Hiroshima company’s 100th and 120th year self-presentations reveal important concerns of the region and the nation, and motivations in going public with its shashi. These comparisons will reveal some of the merits and limits of using shashi in research. This article is part of a larger study on the work of the influence of regional press and publishers on literature in twentieth-century Japan.   

Constructing the Subject: South African Psychological Research before World War II

1993 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 59-63 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johann Louw ◽  
Julie Binedell ◽  
Welmoet Brimmer ◽  
Pindi Mabena ◽  
Annemarie Meyer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
World War Ii ◽  
South African ◽  
Scientific Knowledge ◽  
Psychological Research ◽  
Journal Articles ◽  
World War ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Methodological Guidelines

Thirty-three journal articles reporting empirical findings published by South African psychologists before 1939 were examined to establish the dominant research models of the time. Danziger's study provided the initial impetus as well as methodological guidelines. Findings indicate that three models of research were present, but that one, the Galtonian form of experimentation, soon dominated the field. One possible explanation is to be found in the early involvement of South African psychologists in applied and practical matters. Thus an investigative practice which enabled psychologists to develop knowledge which was relevant to the needs of socially important markets, and still be acceptable as ‘scientific’ knowledge, had significant advantages over rival investigative practices.

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