Code for life

Prizes, science writing, journalism, editors & newspapers

Grant Jacobs • Nov 24, 2009

• media,
• news,
• science communication,
• writing

I wrote recently suggesting a prize for a newspaper carrying science content. In recognition of science writing, not journalism that has some science content to "beef up" an otherwise non-science based story, and to recognise all the science content, not only a few major stories. I'd like to clarify some of what I was suggesting. Read More

Genetic tests and personalised medicine, some science communication issues

Grant Jacobs • Nov 24, 2009

• genomics,
• media,
• medicine,
• natural health remedies,
• science communication

Following on my initial post on Genetic tests and personalised medicine, I'd like to offer some loose thoughts on science communication issues associated with genetic tests. [caption id="attachment_658" align="aligncenter" width="394" caption="Ibn Sina (Avicenna) whose Canon of Medicine (1025) is one of the earliest examples of communication of disease risk. Image source: wikipedia (Statue in … Read More

More inclusive re-entry to encourage departure to businesses?

Grant Jacobs • Nov 22, 2009

• business,
• research grants,
• Science policy,
• universities

Providing better routes for scientists in businesses to enter academia might encourage scientists in academia to move to businesses? … Read More

Best newspaper award, science

Grant Jacobs • Nov 22, 2009

• editor,
• newspaper,
• science communication,
• Science Media Centre,
• writing

By a roundabout way–is there any other?–I was led to thinking that we ought to institute prizes for newspapers presenting science. I am emphasising newspapers: while there are some prizes for science writers, there seem to be few, if any for the newspapers. But I'm getting ahead of myself, let's start at the beginning. Read More

Automatic video captions for YouTube

Grant Jacobs • Nov 21, 2009

• caption,
• deafness,
• video,
• YouTube

Great news for deaf and hard-of-hearing people, or those wanting to follow videos in other languages: you can now ask YouTubeâ„¢ to caption their videos automatically using a voice translation service. There’s an introductory article with instructions on the google blog and a demo: (Demo of automatic captioning.) Currently this service … Read More

Genetic tests and personalised medicine

Grant Jacobs • Nov 20, 2009

• DTC genomics,
• genomics,
• medicine,
• personalised medicine,
• pharmacogenetics

How will genomes and direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic tests affect medicine? [caption id="attachment_619" align="aligncenter" width="576" caption="The Doctor, Luke Fildes (source: wikipedia)"][/caption] Recently I wrote about an up-coming roundtable meeting to be held in Wellington looking at aspects of genomics, medicine and law. Over the next few days I will direct a few posts at the subject … Read More

Note to science communicators–alleles not "disease genes"

Grant Jacobs • Nov 19, 2009

• science communication,
• writing

Popular science writing about genetic diseases, and even "common language" explanations by some scientists, use a term that conveys the wrong concept. Let me vent a little. I'm writing a statement for an up-coming meeting on genomics, medicine and law. I keep crossing a turn of phrase in the articles intended for a general audience … Read More

Study of where academic careers lead

Grant Jacobs • Nov 17, 2009

• student support,
• universities

Just a quick follow-on of sorts from my earlier post Universities and (lack of) showcasing use of science degrees I’d like to point out an ‘Issues & Perspectives’ article from the Science Careers section of Science By Beryl Lieff Benderly: “Taken for Granted: Shocked, Shocked! to Find Disappointment on Campus”. It’s an interesting (re)examination of the academic … Read More

What comedian and vaccine critic Bill Mayer wrote

Grant Jacobs • Nov 17, 2009

• anti-vaccine,
• natural health remedies,
• news

It might even be funny if Maher weren't serious. Read More

Meeting–Genomics, medicine and law

Grant Jacobs • Nov 16, 2009

• genomics,
• law,
• news,
• Science policy

Genomics technologies including genetic screening, disease diagnosis and so-called "genomic" or "personalised" medicine, raise legal and moral rights concerns with the public. In a later post I hope to briefly examine some of the key issues from the point of view of the science, but here I would like to draw attention to … Read More