“Science Comes to the Masses (You Want Fries With That?)”
An article by Mindy Sink with the above title appeared in the Science Times section of The New York Times on February 21, 2006. It describes a growing movement of Cafe Scientifiques that has sprung up. These are informal meetings in cafes, bars, etc. at which scientists answer questions from attendees about science. Sigma Xi, the scientific honor society, recently hosted a gathering of Cafe Scientifique leaders in North Carolina.
This is a great movement and illustrates peoples’ interest in science. It also illustrates the bad effects of the blunder. Because of it, scientists - and everyone else - have not been taught a standard formula for the stages of the scientific method. Thus, scientists are often at a loss to explain the method of science to the public clearly and completely.
The scientific journals have not reported on my efforts to end the blunder, so scientists are usually not familiar with the SM-14 formula, which is the best one available today.
Again I say let’s end the blunder for the good of everyone!
