There's an interesting interview with Morgan Spurlock (the Supersize Me guy) in Time magazine this month.
He's managed to re-invent himself as a TV presenter in the US, and is doing interesting stuff. But the bit that caught my eye is his focus on scientists:
You're making a film version of Chris Mooney's best-selling book The Republican War on Science. Why?
We've started to make science and empirical evidence not nearly as
important as punditry--people using p.r.-speak to push a corporate or
political agenda. I think we need to turn scientists back into the rock
stars they are.
In a world where an increasing proportion of UK teenagers believe in creationism and intelligent design, there's a gap in the market (and a responsibility) to put science back at the centre of the national debate. Francis Wheen's book is excellent, and entertaining, on some of this stuff. The Guardian, or someone similar, ought to start a campaign that highlights daft (and dangerous) thinking for discussion and (where appropriate) ridicule.
The whole Time article is here.
