Comments on: Visual Science: Maps and Other Representations of Culture and History

By: Zuleyka Zevallos

Zuleyka Zevallos — Thu, 20 Feb 2014 11:16:08 +0000

Glad you liked the vid Michael Verona! Sleep well.

By: Michael Verona

Michael Verona — Thu, 20 Feb 2014 11:07:14 +0000

Zuleyka Zevallos – Thanks, I’m happy to help! If I can’t be a scientist, I can at least be weird. Also, I hadn’t seen that VSauce video before – it was cool!

Now I need to find food and sleep. Or just sleep. Or something.

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By: Zuleyka Zevallos

Zuleyka Zevallos — Thu, 20 Feb 2014 10:49:26 +0000

Michael Verona Thanks so much for your comment! Your humour mixed with scepticism is always so amusing! Ahh yes how could I have missed this xkcd, it would have been perfect to add! I did consider adding the VSauce video too (http://youtu.be/2lR7s1Y6Zig).

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By: Michael Verona

Michael Verona — Thu, 20 Feb 2014 09:52:53 +0000

Great post, as always Zuleyka Zevallos!

Between the rise of infographics and the introduction of “common core” mathematics I’m seriously considering labeling Idiocracy as prophecy instead of entertainment, and moving my $20 bet on the end of human existence from “global pandemic” to “not sufficiently intelligent to breathe unassisted.”

On a brighter note, here’s the obligatory XKCD: http://xkcd.com/977/

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By: Zuleyka Zevallos

Zuleyka Zevallos — Thu, 20 Feb 2014 04:15:03 +0000

Charles Payet Thanks for you comment! I think that memes are an especially important area for scientists to pay attention to. Almost every time I see a science meme I think: #NeedsMoreScience The image sometimes misrepresents the science. The stats quoted need caveats (30% of people say “Science is Wrong” – really? 30% of how many and how was the study carried out?) Other times the words are just plain incorrect. (Don’t get me started on those vacuous Einstein quotes citing things he never said!)

Infographics and memes are obviously strong marketing tools so scientists should work out a way to take control of the message by producing our own factual images. I know some people complain that scientists are already expected to be many things: researcher, educator, public communicator, blogger/social media guru. I’m adding visual communicator to the list. But the times they are a changin’, so we must adapt!

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By: Charles “Chip” Payet

Charles “Chip” Payet — Thu, 20 Feb 2014 02:56:17 +0000

So all these memes floating around the Web aren’t all true!? I can’t get all my important facts from individual PowerPoint slides taken grossly out of context that may leave out some important details for the same of simplification at best and outright misrepresentation at worst?

Well damn, that’s disappointing. LOL

Now to be serious: a well-written article that should be required reading for everyone on social media, which means most everyone using a computer or smartphone probably. The unbelievable proliferation of communications media that prize brevity over thoroughness has had unintended consequences. People seem to be losing the ability to think deeply and critically.

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