SCIENCE AND THE MEDIA

   We are planning a conference whose primary audience is
intended to be science journalists and students of science
journalism. In addition, scientists will be invited to the
conference. The purposes of this conference are to highlight some
of the problems jn the transmitting of scientific information to
the public and to discuss ways in which this process can be
improved. Some of the problems to be discussed are: 1)the
difficulties in evaluating the validity of scientific reports and
their implications; 2)the biases which affect the ways in which
scientists present their findings: 3)the factors (altruistic
motives, funding, ideology, etc.) which might, in some cases,
induce scientists to promote their research to the public: 4)the
pressures on science journalists which influence their choice of
stories and how their stories are presented; 5)the difficulty for
science journalists of being both educator and critical evaluator
of scientific research. We hope, by this conference, to improve
mutual understanding of the forces which shape both science and
science reporting. This understanding could contribute to better
and more balanced communication of science to the public.

Location and date: Harvard School of Public Health, April

19, 1986

Cosponsors: Science for the People: Northeastern University

Technical and Professional Writing Program: The Boston Glohe; Bush
Fellows Program for Science Journalists, MIT; Boston Chapter of
the National Writers' Union: New England Science Writers'
Association.

The Program (Underlined speakers have already agreed to

participate. others are being approached or considered.)

8:OO AM Registration

9:OO AM Address: Bias in Science. Stephen Jay Gould

9:45 AM Workshops (Simultaneous in separate placesj

A. The Press and Sex Roles Research. Panel: Caryl
Rivers, BU School of Journa1ism:JG Beckwith, Harvard
Medical School: Sarah Blaffer-Hrdy, Univ. of
California at Davis; Loretta McLaughlin, The Boston
Globe; Julie Miller, Science News.

B. ---- Statistics and Numbers in Science: What do they
really mean? Lucy Horwitz, UMass Boston: Dick Clapp,
Massachusetts Cancer Registry; Eric Lander, Harvard

Univ; Richard Lewontin, Parvard Univ.;   Phil Hilts,
Washington Post: Frederick Mosteller,  Harvard Univ..

11 :IS Address: Leon Jcamin, Princeton University, A critique

of studies on genetics and criminality

12:OP AM Lunch, Panel Discussion: When Does Science Become

News? Jerry Lanson, Head of Science Journalism, BU: David
Chandler, Boston Globe; Jay Winsten, Director, Health Policy
Office, Harvard School of Public Health; Michael Filisky, New
England Aquarium; Rae Goodell, HeaA of Science Writing Program,
MIT; John David, Harvard Schcol of Public Health; David Ansley,
San Jose Mercury-News; Dorothy Nelkin, Cornel1 University; Paula
Apsell, NOVA..

1:45 PM Workshops

A. Star Wars Research and the Media. Panel:
Jonathan Schlefer, managing editor, Technology
Review: Kosta Tsipis, MIT; Vera Kistiakowsky, MIT;
Fred Kaplan, Boston Globe; William Broad, New York
Times: and a supporter of Star Wars research.

B. The Reporting of AIDS and AIDS Research
Larry Kessler, AIDS Action Committee; Tric McESheny,

Director Rush Fellows, M1T;Richard Knox, Boston Globe;
Judy Foreman, Boston Globe: Jerome Groopman, Harvard

Medical School; Lawrence Altman, New York Times;
Harold Varmus, Univ. of California Me8ical School,
San Francisco.

3:15 PM Closing Talk: Yellow Rain and the Media. -- Matthew

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Mesel son.