Whose Fault Is It?

Mea Culpa. Mea Culpa. I have sadly neglected my poor little blog. Honestly, I’ve had good reasons and they are called organic chemistry and sensory physiology. I have studied like a fiend to pass those classes with success in only one (one day chemistry will make sense to me and with hard work I will be able to understand it enough to regurgitate it for a test).

That said, I had an experience early in the term over much I have mulled and percolated. It happened the second week on term in my discussion section for sensory phys.

I was sitting in a group different from my normal one. The group included a much older gentleman from our class who seemed really fascinated by neuroscience. The guy was so knowledgeable that he could have taught the discussion section.

I really liked him because he’s a non-traditional student like me. We talked about our interest in science and I revealed that I was a PR and biology double major. We talked about the communication breakdown betweeen science and media and then he said something very striking.

“I wonder whose fault it is?”

For weeks, I have been thinking about this idea of fault. Ultimately, I think that we all get a slice of blame pie. But is fault a useful idea? I’m not sure. To me fault is legal concept. To discover fault we must look always in the past. Discovery of fault allows us to abdicate our own responsiblity.

If we are busy trying to assign fault, can we begin to move forward.

Moving forward should be the goal of all communication professionals. Creating relationships, bring scientists back into the larger community, encouraging the public to excercise native curiosity, all of these things should be a priority for science communicators.

How do we get from point A to B?

I have a suggestion. When my husband and I fight we both apologize. It usually goes something like this:

Him: I’m sorry that I lost my temper and yelled, but I was really upset.

Me: I’m sorry too. I should have known better than to use your toothbrush to clean the tub grout. I am sorry I was so thoughtless.

So, scientists, media people, and the public should apologize to each other.

Scientist: I am sorry that I have forgotten what it’s like not to know.

Media person: I am sorry I didn’t ask more questions.

Average Person: I am sorry I didn’t pursue curiosity.

Now, can we move forward.

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