Comments on: How do we get the public involved with space travel? http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/09/11/how-do-we-get-the-public-involved-with-space-travel/ I am an astronomer, writer, and skeptic. I likes reality the way it is, and I aims to keep it that way. My real name is Phil Plait, and I run the Bad Astronomy blog. Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:58:18 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: marit http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/09/11/how-do-we-get-the-public-involved-with-space-travel/comment-page-2/#comment-48214 marit Wed, 19 Sep 2007 13:35:54 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/09/11/how-do-we-get-the-public-involved-with-space-travel/#comment-48214 Over here in Norway, (which is a country of only 4.5 million people and 3 national and major newspapers) the press guy for the astrophysics department at the university of Oslo is a wonderful, loveable and extremely excited geek. Somehow, (I would of course say Naturally,) he has grown to become an accessible for all knowledge-guy, who gets lots of mediacoverage for all sorts of space-events. Every lunar or solar eclipse or meteor shower or other nice accessible events that are easy for people without a lot of astronomical insight to understand, lots of people show up and stare at the sky together. I'd say it has become a bit of a national pasttime, at least in my area. Just a happy little note from the north. Over here in Norway, (which is a country of only 4.5 million people and 3 national and major newspapers) the press guy for the astrophysics department at the university of Oslo is a wonderful, loveable and extremely excited geek. Somehow, (I would of course say Naturally,) he has grown to become an accessible for all knowledge-guy, who gets lots of mediacoverage for all sorts of space-events. Every lunar or solar eclipse or meteor shower or other nice accessible events that are easy for people without a lot of astronomical insight to understand, lots of people show up and stare at the sky together. I’d say it has become a bit of a national pasttime, at least in my area. Just a happy little note from the north.

]]> By: Bob Mahoney http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/09/11/how-do-we-get-the-public-involved-with-space-travel/comment-page-2/#comment-48144 Bob Mahoney Mon, 17 Sep 2007 17:51:56 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/09/11/how-do-we-get-the-public-involved-with-space-travel/#comment-48144 Thanks, Phil, for citing my Space Review article. I'm delighted it's still playing some part in advancing this vital issue. As for offering particular suggestions, I'd point everyone to review the SECOND PART of the article (http://www.thespacereview.com/article/807/1), wherein I list a) a few very specific ideas that might improve NASA's TV coverage (but which are applicable to different media as well), along with b) some thoughts on other media (NOT news media) avenues. I offered all these thoughts, knowingly limited and imperfect, as seeds that might spark even better ideas from folks more creative than I. BTW, the PRIMARY point of my original essay wasn't that NASA TV sucks, although most feedback seems to focus on this (Talk about striking a chord!); I was trying to go a little deeper into WHY it does. Specifically, NASA (and the scientific community as a whole) rarely employ the well-understood fundamentals of EFFECTIVE STORYTELLING, those same core techniques (none requiring deception or misrepresentation, mind you) employed by Hollywood and dating from before Homer that effectively engage the public. All the "good" science shows and books that people cite DO--they succeed in getting the audience "caught up in the story," regardless of the specific subject matter. This is why Sagan & de Grasse Tyson & Bill Nye stand out--they and their assisting writers (de Grasse Tyson is an exceptional author in his own right) masterfully employ(ed) these fundamental techniques, even in their interviews. Another exceptional example is James Burke (Connections, etc)--who, one might note, started as a reporter covering the space program. Good, engaging storytelling need not cost a fortune, and WE already know the subject matter is great stuff. The greatest challenge, I believe, is getting past (or around) the small-minded marketing people (and numerous others occupying similar hurdle-creating positions) who don't think space (or science) can sell. It can--when the story gets told properly. Thanks, Phil, for citing my Space Review article. I’m delighted it’s still playing some part in advancing this vital issue.

As for offering particular suggestions, I’d point everyone to review the SECOND PART of the article (http://www.thespacereview.com/article/807/1), wherein I list

a) a few very specific ideas that might improve NASA’s TV coverage (but which are applicable to different media as well),

along with

b) some thoughts on other media (NOT news media) avenues.

I offered all these thoughts, knowingly limited and imperfect, as seeds that might spark even better ideas from folks more creative than I.

BTW, the PRIMARY point of my original essay wasn’t that NASA TV sucks, although most feedback seems to focus on this (Talk about striking a chord!); I was trying to go a little deeper into WHY it does.

Specifically, NASA (and the scientific community as a whole) rarely employ the well-understood fundamentals of EFFECTIVE STORYTELLING, those same core techniques (none requiring deception or misrepresentation, mind you) employed by Hollywood and dating from before Homer that effectively engage the public. All the “good” science shows and books that people cite DO–they succeed in getting the audience “caught up in the story,” regardless of the specific subject matter. This is why Sagan & de Grasse Tyson & Bill Nye stand out–they and their assisting writers (de Grasse Tyson is an exceptional author in his own right) masterfully employ(ed) these fundamental techniques, even in their interviews. Another exceptional example is James Burke (Connections, etc)–who, one might note, started as a reporter covering the space program.

Good, engaging storytelling need not cost a fortune, and WE already know the subject matter is great stuff. The greatest challenge, I believe, is getting past (or around) the small-minded marketing people (and numerous others occupying similar hurdle-creating positions) who don’t think space (or science) can sell. It can–when the story gets told properly.

]]> By: KaiYeves http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/09/11/how-do-we-get-the-public-involved-with-space-travel/comment-page-2/#comment-48145 KaiYeves Sun, 16 Sep 2007 22:00:59 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/09/11/how-do-we-get-the-public-involved-with-space-travel/#comment-48145 Me, too. Even though I'd have to grow my hair out a bit to have a Padawan braid. I can see him with a blue lightsaber, actually. Man, I'm a geek. But I'm a HAPPY geek. Me, too. Even though I’d have to grow my hair out a bit to have a Padawan braid. I can see him with a blue lightsaber, actually. Man, I’m a geek. But I’m a HAPPY geek.

]]> By: Summer http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/09/11/how-do-we-get-the-public-involved-with-space-travel/comment-page-2/#comment-48146 Summer Fri, 14 Sep 2007 15:01:37 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/09/11/how-do-we-get-the-public-involved-with-space-travel/#comment-48146 "How do we get the public involved with space travel?" How can I help? To heck with waiting for some govt. meeting to decide to get us involved, how can we volunteer? I help pay for the program, how can we the people take part? “How do we get the public involved with space travel?”

How can I help? To heck with waiting for some govt. meeting to decide to get us involved, how can we volunteer? I help pay for the program, how can we the people take part?

]]> By: Hypatia http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/09/11/how-do-we-get-the-public-involved-with-space-travel/comment-page-2/#comment-48147 Hypatia Fri, 14 Sep 2007 13:05:49 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/09/11/how-do-we-get-the-public-involved-with-space-travel/#comment-48147 With that Jedi Master, who wouldn't love to be a padawan! LOL what can I say... he was more than a teacher to me :) With that Jedi Master, who wouldn’t love to be a padawan! LOL

what can I say… he was more than a teacher to me :)

]]> By: writerdd http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/09/11/how-do-we-get-the-public-involved-with-space-travel/comment-page-2/#comment-48148 writerdd Fri, 14 Sep 2007 07:23:42 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/09/11/how-do-we-get-the-public-involved-with-space-travel/#comment-48148 Hey, Phil, I wrote about you (& this topic) on my knitting blog: http://sheeptoshawl.com/blog/index.php?itemid=129 Hey, Phil, I wrote about you (& this topic) on my knitting blog:

http://sheeptoshawl.com/blog/index.php?itemid=129

]]> By: Gary Ansorge http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/09/11/how-do-we-get-the-public-involved-with-space-travel/comment-page-2/#comment-48155 Gary Ansorge Fri, 14 Sep 2007 02:38:31 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/09/11/how-do-we-get-the-public-involved-with-space-travel/#comment-48155 I love pesimists. It's so much fun when they turn out to be WRONG!!! It's been said: An optimist is one who believes this is the best of all possible worlds. A pesimist is one who is afraid the optimist,,,is right. This is not the best of all possible worlds. We CAN do better,,,but it will take a lot of hard work and a little,,,faith??? Building worlds can be great fun. Jerry O'Nielle set the curve. We can run with that ball. I have fun building every concievable variety of space colony(ok, only on paper, so far). I study every idea that comes down the pike on how to get to space. IT WILL HAPPEN,,,eventually,,,humanity IS too smart, to just give up and die. GAry 7 I love pesimists. It’s so much fun when they turn out to be WRONG!!!

It’s been said: An optimist is one who believes this is the best of all possible worlds.
A pesimist is one who is afraid the optimist,,,is right.

This is not the best of all possible worlds. We CAN do better,,,but it will take a lot of hard work and a little,,,faith???

Building worlds can be great fun. Jerry O’Nielle set the curve. We can run with that ball. I have fun building every concievable variety of space colony(ok, only on paper, so far). I study every idea that comes down the pike on how to get to space. IT WILL HAPPEN,,,eventually,,,humanity IS too smart, to just give up and die.

GAry 7

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