Pseudo-Science Debunked

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Consider the source [behind a scientific claim].  A group may sound green and progressive, but do a little homework to see where its money comes from—reputable groups make that information easily available. Also think about the folks who are writing, promoting, or funding a claim: Do they have an ax to grind?

Look for evidence of a scientific method. Did [the researchers] start with an idea, and then set out to prove it—which is not the scientific method—or did they start out with a question, look for evidence, and then draw their conclusions? 

Methodology often gets left out of science reporting. How can the media make scientific issues more clear? 

With the media, there’s this notion of needing to provide a balanced perspective. That’s not necessarily
a bad thing, but at some point, the preponderance of opinions and evidence falls on one side. At that point, it becomes a disservice to the public to resurrect the one scientist out of 800 who feels a certain way on an issue. 

What are some good sources of scientific information? 

Try to go to groups that have scientists on staff, that have strong connections to universities, museums, or other places where scientists work. Zoos, aquariums, museums, botanical gardens, and nature centers all tend to be fairly reliable sources of information.

Spend an afternoon with your family tearing through a wetland, or looking at things in the woods, or watching birds. It’s all going to increase your ability to observe, gather evidence, and draw conclusions. 

How much do we really need to understand the science behind politically charged scientific issues, such as climate change, evolution, and reproductive health? 

We have to understand some basic tenets of how the natural world works, of how the earth runs. Fortunately, there are some great pieces of literature that do a lot of that translating for us. 

For example, last year the editors of Science magazine put together State of the Planet: 2006–2007, a compilation of articles that are written for a broad audience. People can’t be afraid to dive in. You don’t have to have a Ph.D. to read these things. What you have to do is care. 

To learn more, visit the Union of Concerned Scientists’ website at www.ucsusa.org.

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