After a mere 40 odd years

[Mich the Tester]

The problem is that there is no programming available to those individuals who do already have a scientific interest and understanding

Will there ever be such programming (other than on the OU)?

You're asking for something very specialised I think.

I recently watched Simon Schama's programmes about the history of Art; I liked them, but possibly because it's something where my knowledge is limited. However an art historian or artist with much more knowledge might feel the same about those programmes as you feel about last night's Horizon.

[Troll]

How else would you get a scientifically ignorant public to take an interest in science?

Perhaps there is a reason for that ignorance -if people are only interested in the Saturday evening Karaoke that masquerades as entertainment so be it - they are already pandered to and no amount of low brow science programming is going to change that.

The problem is that there is no programming available to those individuals who do already have a scientific interest and understanding

Using your argument, Shakespeare shouldn't be shown on TV but kept to a Janet & John level

Which perhaps now explains why History is now being taught by Baldrick

[Mich the Tester]

How very New Labour...

How else would you get a scientifically ignorant public to take an interest in science?


Anyway, far more interesting is the bit I missed when I went to make a cup of tea; the xenon bit. I came back with my tea and digestives having just heard the bit about perfused cells dying, to see that a doctor was going to use xenon on a sick baby; what's the trick with the xenon?

[Troll]

Hmmm, it was presented in a way that was accessible for as many people as possible.

How very New Labour...

[Mich the Tester]

If that was the one about deep cooling the human body - I thought it was pretty dire & could only stand to watch it for 30 seconds - everything about science on the beeb seems to have been dragged down to a Blue Peter presentation level

Hmmm, it was presented in a way that was accessible for as many people as possible. I still found the content interesting; however, it might have gone into more detail about the chemical processes involved; but, there is the internet, and I can seek out more details myself.

Thing is, in a society where I think there's a huge amount of dangerous ignorance about science, it's a difficult balancing act between making a program accessible and keeping it interesting for scientifically trained people. Show the program in a lecture style, with all the chemical formulae presented to the viewer and many of the people who can learn from the program will turn off.

I've always felt that the Royal Institution Christmas Lectures are excellent examples of popular science broadcasting, but I wonder how many people actually sit and watch the whole lot.

[Troll]

I saw it last night; was quite interesting.

If that was the one about deep cooling the human body - I thought it was pretty dire & could only stand to watch it for 30 seconds - everything about science on the beeb seems to have been dragged down to a Blue Peter presentation level

[Mich the Tester]

What about the link between being a fascist and having bats in your belfry?

Perhaps it's too obvious to merit investigation.

[shaunbhoy]

It may be codswallop, but it is indeed a non-sequitur to suggest a causal link between belief in Atlantis and being a fascist.

What about the link between being a fascist and having bats in your belfry?

[Mich the Tester]

I stopped watching it a few years back when they did a programme on Atlantis. In parts it was good but my intelligence was insulted when they concluded that it's all a load of codswallop and if you believe it then you are some kind of crypto fascist. Apparently the Nazis were big on Atlantis or something.

It may be codswallop, but it is indeed a non-sequitur to suggest a causal link between belief in Atlantis and being a fascist.

[shaunbhoy]

I stopped watching it a few years back when they did a programme on Atlantis. In parts it was good but my intelligence was insulted when they concluded that it's all a load of codswallop and if you believe it then you are some kind of crypto fascist. Apparently the Nazis were big on Atlantis or something.

Did you see their expose on the Tooth Fairy? Bet that one had you similarly irate!

[gricerboy]

I appear to have stopped watching "Horizon".

I stopped watching it a few years back when they did a programme on Atlantis. In parts it was good but my intelligence was insulted when they concluded that it's all a load of codswallop and if you believe it then you are some kind of crypto fascist. Apparently the Nazis were big on Atlantis or something.

[Mich the Tester]

I appear to have stopped watching "Horizon".

I saw it last night; was quite interesting.

[alreadypacked]

I appear to have stopped watching "Horizon".

I always miss UK TV, until I get back to the UK

[zeitghost]

I appear to have stopped watching "Horizon".