scholarly journals Is Darwin dangerous? Museums, media, and public understanding of evolution

1970 ◽  
pp. 98
Author(s):  
Hanne Stranger ◽  
Peter C. Kjærgaard
Keyword(s):  
Natural History ◽  
Media Coverage ◽  
Public Discourse ◽  
Science And Religion ◽  
Public Understanding ◽  
Natural History Museums ◽  
The Public ◽  
History Museums ◽  
The Media ◽  
Controversial Topic

What defines a topic as controversial? How does one measure its significance? Is it what commentators find controversial, what a majority of people think, or what generates the most heated debates? There is general consensus that evolution has been a controversial topic since the mid-nineteenth century. The scientific debate was settled in the 1930s with the modern synthesis bringing genetics and the theory of evolution by natural selection together within a single theoretical framework. The public debates, however, continued, mainly due to religiously motivated anti-evolution activists. The conflict narrative of science and religion with evolution versus creation has been – and still is – a particular favourite with the press. Consequently, the media is complicit in maintaining evolution as a controversial topic. This is the reality natural history museums have to deal with when communicating evolution. The question is whether it makes any difference which strategies museums take and, if so, whether it is possible to measure the difference. The authors discuss the role natural history museums have in the public discourse of evolution by looking at the different approaches in 2009 to the celebrations of the 150th anniversary of the publication of the Origin of Species and the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin’s birth, comparing it to the media coverage of the events in the Scandinavian countries. 

scholarly journals Why are our Jar Lids Crumbling?

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. e25928
Author(s):  
Jennifer Trimble
Keyword(s):  
Natural History ◽  
Specific Interest ◽  
Natural History Museums ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
The Public ◽  
History Museums ◽  
Comparative Zoology ◽  
Potential Impact ◽  
Public Exhibition

Glass jars and lids used to house fluid preserved specimens in Natural History Museums are arguably one of the most important factors needed to ensure the long term conservation of the specimens in their collections. Additionally these jars are used to display specimens in exhibits, and are the first, and often the only line of defense against damage caused by evaporation of the fluids used to preserve specimens. The Harvard Museum of Natural History (HMNH) was established as the public face of the Museum of Comparative Zoology (MCZ) which opened its doors in 1859. Often, the Museum of Comparative Zoology loans fluid preserved invertebrates to the Museum of Natural History at Harvard for display. Of specific interest to this project is a permanent arthropod exhibit displaying a variety of specimens in jars ranging from 4 oz to 1 gallon in size. During a 7-year public exhibition loan, lids began to deteriorate while on display. Visually, these lids became cracked and webbed, and upon physical manipulation the plastic crumpled into pieces. Notably, this problem has not been observed in research collections where the specimens are permanently stored. Possible factors affecting lid stability include temperature and light, and other unknowns. Given the potential impact of this issue on all collections we investigated the possible causes of lid degradation and wish to bring attention to this issue. Photography was used to document the physical problem and MicroCT was used to investigate both cracked and new lids. The resulting images are displayed here. Although the composition of lids are explored, and other jar methods outlined, flint jars remain the most consistent, and sturdy option for a student oriented museum.

scholarly journals Representation of actors and sources (Technology Coverage)

10.34778/2zm ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gwendolin Gurr ◽  
Julia Metag
Keyword(s):  
News Media ◽  
Media Coverage ◽  
Science Communication ◽  
Public Discourse ◽  
Research Question ◽  
New York Times ◽  
Time Frame ◽  
Research Interest ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Media

Analyzing which actors or sources are cited in the news media coverage allows for carving out different perspectives that are represented in the media coverage. Studies thus analyze which types of actors are cited by journalists to what extent. In technology coverage, actors from the domain of science, politics, NGOs, industry and citizens are often mentioned.   Field of application/theoretical foundation: The analysis of the representation of actors is based on the assumption that journalists choose actors as sources purposefully and thereby attribute relevance to them. Those actors cited in the journalistic coverage have more opportunities to present their arguments and are thus more visible in the public discourse. Actors are also analyzed within framing analysis (Entman, 1993) and analyses of discourses in various domains.   Example studies: Metag & Marcinkowski (2014); Nisbet & Lewenstein (2002)   Information on Metag & Marcinkowski, 2014 Authors: Julia Metag, Frank Marcinkowski Research question/research interest: “Does the concept of a journalistic negativity bias apply to the media coverage of nanotechnology?” Object of analysis: German speaking daily newspapers: Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Süddeutsche Zeitung, Neue Zürcher Zeitung, Tagesanzeiger, Standard, Presse Time frame of analysis: 2000-2009   Information on Nisbet & Lewenstein, 2002 Authors: Matthew C. Nisbet, Bruce V. Lewenstein Research question/research interest: trends in media coverage of biotechnology Object of analysis: New York Times and Newsweek Time frame of analysis: 1970-1999    Information about variable   Authors Variable name/definition Level of analysis Values Scale level Reliability Metag & Marcinkowski (2014) the three most prominent actors cited   article   scientists economic actors journalists nominal N/A Nisbet & Lewenstein (2002) featured actors (up to 2 actors per article) article government affiliated general (the public, the media) science or medicine industry other interests (in addition: further subcategories) nominal intercoder reliability for two groups (Team A: r = .43; Team B: r = 48)   References Entman, R. M. (1993). Framing: Toward clarification of a fractured paradigm. Journal of Communication, 43, 51­58. Metag, Julia; Marcinkowski, Frank (2014): Technophobia towards emerging technologies? A comparative analysis of the media coverage of nanotechnology in Austria, Switzerland and Germany. In: Journalism 15(4), 463-481. Nisbet, Matthew C.; Lewenstein, Bruce V. (2002): Biotechnology and the American Media. The Policy Process and the Elite Press, 1970 to 1999. In: Science Communication 23 (4), 359–391.

Emigracja zarobkowa z Ukrainy do Polski w propagandzie rosyjskiej po 2014 roku

2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 293-315
Author(s):  
Andrzej Szabaciuk
Keyword(s):  
Soviet Union ◽  
Media Coverage ◽  
Public Discourse ◽  
The Public ◽  
Mass Migration ◽  
The Soviet Union ◽  
Polish Language ◽  
Russian Media ◽  
The Media ◽  
And Migration

The aim of the article is to analyze the image of economic emigration from Ukraine to Poland created by pro-Kremlin media after 2014. It shows how Russian propaganda changed during the 20th century, what function it had from the tsarist period, through the years of the Soviet Union, to contemporary times. Its significance in the period after the decomposition of the union state was presented, and in particular the changes that it underwent since Vladimir Putin’s first presidency. There were shown ideological changes, which more or less influenced the public discourse, and thus also the media coverage. The functions of the Russian propaganda after the escalation of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict and the way of presenting mass labour migration from Ukraine to Poland are presented, both in the context of creating a specific narrative about the current internal and foreign situation of Ukraine after the Dignity Revolution, as well as against the background of Polish-Ukrainian relations and migration processes taking place in Poland. It was shown which aspects of mass migration were most often presented by pro-Kremlin information platforms, in which context and how a specific propaganda discourse was constructed. An important element is the analysis of changes observed in the message of the state-controlled Russian media concerning the mass migration of Ukrainians to Poland and the analysis of the origins, scale, significance and consequences of this migration. More extensive research leads to the conclusion that the media controlled by the Kremlin authorities can skilfully construct the message by adapting it to the addressee. In Polish language information services, the information addressed to the recipient is much more detailed and prepared in such a way as to build an aversion between the host society and Ukrainian economic immigrants. While preparing the article, we used the analysis of data found with elements of a comparative analysis.

scholarly journals The Takeover of Science Communication – Science Lost its Leading Role in the Public Discourse of Carbon Capture and Storage Research in Daily Newspapers in Germany

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Schneider
Keyword(s):  
Media Coverage ◽  
Carbon Capture ◽  
Science Communication ◽  
Public Discourse ◽  
Carbon Capture And Storage ◽  
Media Representations ◽  
The Public ◽  
Daily Newspapers ◽  
Leading Role ◽  
The Media

Abstract. CCS is an important issue that has played a major role in the agenda of scientists, researchers, and engineers. While the media representations of CCS in Germany from 2004 to 2014 showed significant characteristics of a medialization of the topic, this cannot be ascribed to science. Instead, CCS media coverage in Germany was dominated by other stakeholder groups. If Science will stay a pro-active element of science communication, new approaches for future science PR have be deduced to re-strengthen the role of science communication. Among these is the pursuit of a more differentiated understanding of target audiences and regional concerns. Science PR has to accept that the science itself is no longer the only stakeholder and actor within science communication.

“Tibet, High Land of Monk and Nomad”: Field Museum Opens New Exhibition

1968 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 603-608
Keyword(s):  
Natural History ◽  
Natural History Museums ◽  
The Public ◽  
Field Museum ◽  
History Museums ◽  
World's Columbian Exposition ◽  
Columbian Exposition

One of the world's four most celebrated natural history museums, Field Museum in Chicago, has only recently completed and opened to the public a new permanent exhibition called “Tibet, High Land of Monk and Nomad.”Founded in 1893, Field Museum grew from a nest egg of materials from the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago the same year. Almost immediately, founder Marshall Field began sending out expeditions to enrich the Museum's nucleus of display materials. As early as 1908, Dr. Berthold Laufer led the Mrs. T. B. Blackstone Expedition to the remote Himalayan theocracy of Tibet. During the expedition, which went to both China and Tibet between 1908 and 1910, Dr. Laufer collected some 10,000 specimens for Field Museum, principally ethnological in nature. A large number of the Chinese materials were brought together in a special Civilization of China exhibition which opened four years ago.

The Museum as a Cinematic Space

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisa Mandelli
Keyword(s):  
Natural History ◽  
Exhibition Design ◽  
First Century ◽  
Extensive Investigation ◽  
Natural History Museums ◽  
The Public ◽  
Moving Images ◽  
History Museums ◽  
Cinematic Space ◽  
Broad Variety

Moving images have become a common feature in museums, where visitors are now accustomed to finding a broad variety of projections and screens. But when did films start to be displayed in history, science or natural history museums? How did visitors react to the transformation of static displays by means of moving images? And what are the current stakes of showing audio-visuals in exhibition spaces? The Museum as a Cinematic Space is an extensive investigation of the use of moving images in exhibition design outside the art field. It explores how museums have incorporated films and audio-visuals in their display from the beginning of the twentieth century up to the present. The Museum as a Cinematic Space investigates the inclusion of cinematic elements (films, screens, projections) within the display. In addition to describing the strategies used by the curators to exhibit films, the book identifies the practical, technical and discursive conditions that made possible the use of moving images in museum galleries during the twentieth and twenty-first century. By opening itself to moving images, the exhibition becomes a place where cinema and museum spectatorships converge, reshaping the relations between the public, the images, and viewing space.

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