Columbus Science Pub off to a GREAT start!

Here's a few photos and thoughts after tonight's inaugural Columbus Science Pub (more on the event here), held at the Hampton's on King near the OSU campus. The first speaker in the monthly event series? Dr. Tara C. Smith, professor of epidemiology and author of the kick-ass ScienceBlog, Aetiology.  Not sure what the organizer(s) thought, but I thought the event was a great success.

Figure 1.  Science education done right: on bed sheet, in a bar.

Tara's talk was titled Science Denial and the Internet, and covered topics ranging from HIV denial, this history of the anti-vaccine movement, and advice for the audience (which included both scientists and non-scientists) on how to weed out misinformation and promote better communication of science to the public.  By my count, there were a little over 50 people in the audience at it's peak.

Figure 2.  Some of the crowd.

So why do I consider this first installment of the Columbus Science Pub a success?

First, we had a good mix of folks in the audience: Non-science folks, science students, researchers and a few bloggers like myself and Richard Hoppe from Panda's Thumb.


Second, Tara's talk was awesome.  I think everyone learned something new and valuable - myself included - and had a great time to boot.


Third, following the talk the organizer Dan Siegal-Gaskins moderated discussions between audience members and the speaker.  Topics included the peer review process, how science gets communicated among scientists, the role of social networks and other digital media in communicating science, the dangers of being a science advocate (yes, they exist!), and challenges of confronting emotionally driven beliefs that run contrary to sound science. 

I'll try and get a copy of her talk to share some of the highlights, but in the mean time I'll share her closing slide which probably sums up the frustration my internet presence causes Dr. Wife™... ;)

For more details on her talk, see this Newsvine article by Brent Jernigan.