What Are the Most Sucessful Examples of New Media Science Communication?

The Intersection
By Chris Mooney
Nov 13, 2009 11:54 PMNov 19, 2019 9:16 PM

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This is a subject I'm thinking about this morning, as I'm presenting to my fellow Knight Fellows about the new media, and specifically about blogging. Ironically, though, I'm going to argue that blogging is not the best or most effective form of existing science communication online, for many of the reasons outlined in Unscientific America. But trying to be positive rather than negative, I'm also going to point out what is: Viral YouTube videos that introduce nonscientific audiences, in the millions, to scientific thinking in a very thoughtful and memorable way. What are the best examples of such videos? Well, I'm open to suggestions, but I see two particularly outstanding cases out there. In first place, viewed by over 5 million people, is the hilarious "Large Hadron Rap," probably the best PR move CERN ever made: In second place, meanwhile, I'd highlight Oregon high school teacher Greg Craven's "The Most Terrifying Video You'll Ever See," explaining in a truly convincing fashion that whether or not you believe global warming is caused by humans, logic still compels you to support the need to take action. This one clocks in at well over 2 million views: In my view, these videos are by far the best examples of using new media to get the word out about science. What do others think, either about the best and most widely watched YouTube vids or other new media innovations? And does anyone want to argue back with the case for blogs?

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