http://charbonniers.org/2010/07/02/pop-science/ A blog on consciousness by Janet Kwasniak Wed, 23 May 2012 06:04:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 http://charbonniers.org/2010/07/02/pop-science/#comment-7444 Neuroskeptic Sat, 17 Jul 2010 09:44:53 +0000 http://charbonniers.org/2010/07/02/pop-science/#comment-7444 <p><p>I think the fundamental problem is that real science, while really interesting, is complex and hard to explain to laypeople. Scientists find science interesting, but only because they spend their lives learning about it.</p><br /> <p>A skilled science writer can explain real science and make it interesting to laypeople, but it's a skill, an art really. Whereas any half decent writer can write a book that reads well and seems exciting but only because it's based on simplified and crap "science". To do it well you need to be able to write well, <i>and</i> understand the science, but few people have both those skills.</p><br /> JK: I could not agree more. Unfortunately for me, I am not as good a writer as I wish I was. I do enjoy your blog. </p> <p>I think the fundamental problem is that real science, while really interesting, is complex and hard to explain to laypeople. Scientists find science interesting, but only because they spend their lives learning about it.</p>
<p>A skilled science writer can explain real science and make it interesting to laypeople, but it’s a skill, an art really. Whereas any half decent writer can write a book that reads well and seems exciting but only because it’s based on simplified and crap “science”. To do it well you need to be able to write well, <i>and</i> understand the science, but few people have both those skills.</p>
JK: I could not agree more. Unfortunately for me, I am not as good a writer as I wish I was. I do enjoy your blog.

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