Michael Specter, a science journalist at The New Yorker and author of Denialism: How Irrational Thinking Hinders Scientific Progress, Harms the Planet, and Threatens Our Lives gives a remarkably powerful talk on the treatment of science in modern times. He asks, ‘Why do we mistrust scientific authority?’ and encourages us to listen to the data even as we keep our skepticism.
This is a really good talk. I wish I had given it. Follow this link to the TEDed page with this talk and some questions. He mentions Paul Offit, the author of Vaccinated, the book we are reading in Microbiology this semester. Although the mention is brief, it does expose the ugly mob mentality that takes over public discourse sometimes.
DownHouseSoftware 
Tina Duver
March 12, 2013 at 6:06 am
I agree – great talk – going to start reading Vaccinated now.
downhousesoftware
March 12, 2013 at 7:19 am
I’m sure you’ll love it. I’m reading it for the second time now and find it just as good as the first time around. Let me know what you think.
mc105
March 12, 2013 at 3:07 pm
Sounds interesting, I think I will check this out
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July 29, 2013 at 6:05 pm
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downhousesoftware
July 30, 2013 at 9:34 am
Hi P-
Thanks for the comment. Please elaborate and I’ll see if I can answer your query about my sources. I’m sorry I wasn’t clear on something, I really do try to footnote well.
-Jack