Wednesday, July 25, 2007
“You do not really understand something unless you can explain it to your grandmother.”
Albert Einstein said this. But did he ever think how difficult it could be to explain a scientific observation to a college student? A student’s hearing level may be better than granny’s but when it comes to environmental issues, their comprehension and interest level may be the same.
Aaron Scurto is beginning to take actions to improve communication between scientists and non-scientists on topics of sustainability.
Scurto, professor in the chemical and petroleum engineering department, used Einstein’s quote to describe his efforts. Scurto is reaching out to campus media outlets for participation in a developing initiative.
He proposes that students in the sciences work on projects that they will present to student media outlets. The two groups of students would then work together to decide how to present the information to the public. Scurto said the initiative would help students in the sciences and students in the fields of communication learn to present topics in science, technology and society more effectively to the public. It would also keep the University and Lawrence community educated on “green” topics, he said.
“Scientists and nonscientists can get together and learn how to communicate together and with the community,” Scurto said.
Danielle Basci, KJHK station manager, said Scurto approached the station on the heels of its decision to cancel its AP-wire news programming, which is being replaced with a twice-weekly, one-hour news magazine. Basci said the station offered Scurto’s team a weekly news segment or educational series on its new program. Basci said that nothing official had been decided but that she thought Scurto’s initiative was a great opportunity for the station and its listeners.
“Bringing an environmental beat to our news programming will benefit KJHK listeners because they live in a community where environmental sustainability is held with great importance, and we’re thrilled to put our airwaves to good use in order to acknowledge this cause,” Basci, Houston senior, said.
Scurto said students would cover topics in energy, recycling, sustainability and the environment and how they relate to everyday tasks like doing laundry or choosing which light bulbs to buy. He is still in the early planning stages of the initiative but hopes to have things in motion in the next four-to-six months. He is beginning to write proposals for funding agencies, like the National Science Foundation, to help support his efforts.
— Edited by Joe Caponio
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