I’ve been invited to speak at this conference next week — The Written Word: Writing, Publishing, and Communication in Higher Education — organised by the Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching at NUI Galway. There’s quite an eclectic line-up of speakers with backgrounds in popular science writing, education, and broadcasting, so I’m […]
Scientific literacy
Remember, there are no right answers…
For college students enrolled in science-based courses, ‘Research Methods’ classes can often be something of a mixed bag. The same is true for Research Methods textbooks. And I feel I should know. As I work professionally (so to speak) in this area, I get sent samples of such textbooks by […]
Working the crowd
As part of my day job, I’m involved in psychology research examining the effects of having other people around when you’re trying to cope with mental stress. Here’s the summary of our findings to date: it’s complicated. But not to worry. All that means is that there’s plenty of toothpaste […]
Once more, with feeling: ‘Weather’ is NOT ‘climate’
What is it with some media outlets and their tendency to gloss over the difference between ‘weather‘ and ‘climate‘? Let me give you the basics. Here’s the Wikipedia* explanation of the term ‘weather‘: …the state of the atmosphere, to the degree that it is hot or cold, wet or dry, […]
Cancer: Misinformation is a risk factor too
People who know me personally will know that I don’t take cancer lightly (for various reasons I won’t go into here). So I am always a bit reluctant to criticize people who make the fight against cancer their life’s mission. After all, there are easier jobs. But cancer is not just […]
Chocolate keeps you thin? Fat chance!
It seems like only yesterday I was writing about the idea that scoffing mounds of chocolicious contraband might actually be — bear with me — bad for your physical health. That’s right. Call me Doctor Bigbrains and give me my Nobel Prize. I’ll even say it again: gorging on chocolate […]
Recent Posts
The cries for help are getting louder. And that’s a good sign
“A science that does not allow opposing opinions abolishes knowledge.” Er, kind of
Getting it Right: Addressing Myths about the 2021 NICE Guideline for ME/CFS
Talking to David Tuller about dualism
Where I speak to colleagues in the Swedish parliament…
