Alison Campbell • Jan 16, 2019 •
Every so often there’s a new story claiming that a study has overturned our understanding of human evolution. (Or something along those lines.) I’ve just come across another one**, & thought I’d write this post as a warning to year 13 biology students. As Carl Sagan once said, extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence – something that’s lacking in this particular … Read More
Alison Campbell • Jun 06, 2018 •
I subscribe to the Tertiary Insight newsletter (a great way to keep up with news of what’s happening in the tertiary sector). Yesterday’s edition included a statement (& a link) about the NZQA’s decision to cancel the registration of the Aromaflex Academy. It seems that this Private Training Establishment (PTE) was placed under strict conditions in January 2018, & … Read More
Alison Campbell • May 10, 2018 •
A couple of days ago I had a chat with a journalist that resulted in my being quoted – along with Dr Shaun Holt – in this story about purveyors of Kangen water. If you believe the hype, this stuff cures a wide range of ailments & leaves you bright-eyed & bushy-tailed. IF… but sadly, these days personal anecdote … Read More
Alison Campbell • Apr 19, 2015 •
As you'll have gathered, I'm finding Facebook - and now Twitter - great sources of information, whether it's for teaching, sharing with my students (& others!), or blogging about. And today, this paper popped up on my Twitter feed:... Read More
Alison Campbell • Apr 06, 2015 •
Will Grant & Rod Lambert, from the Australian National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science, listed these 10 common mistakes in an article published in The Conversation. And as they say, if we're honest we've probably made at... Read More
Victoria Metcalf • Oct 17, 2014 •
Image source: Wikimedia Commons uploaded by The Pink Group https://www.iconfinder.com/iconsets/social-media-icons-the-circle-set Recently the Minister of Education , Hon Hekia Parata, suggested introducing new assessments for Years 9 and 10 at school. The tone of the conversations on education in general I have been having in recent months with teachers leads me to … Read More
Alison Campbell • Jan 21, 2012 •
The other day my friend Renee sent through this link, & her thoughts. "This article (& website) set my woo-ometer off big time," she said. The article's entitled Scientists cure cancer, but no one takes notice, and begins thusly:Canadian researchers find a... Read More
Alison Campbell • Jan 12, 2012 •
This week I've found myself becoming quite frustrated with the way alternative 'therapies' are being presented in the NZ Herald. Two of the three described to date are - as described - essentially massage therapies (as Michael Edmonds has noted... Read More
Alison Campbell • Jan 10, 2012 •
This morning's Herald ran an article on 'alternative therapies' - New Zealanders' beliefs about their effectiveness, & a Herald reporter's experience of one such 'therapy'. (Apparently there will be more to come over the next few days.) The article presented... Read More
Alison Campbell • Jan 09, 2012 •
Over at this post by Seth Mnookin** in the new HuffPo science section (like Orac I will be rather interested to see how this section pans out), a commenter with the 'nym Seeking Clarity remarked:What our mainstream science education curricula apparently... Read More