"Science: What's it up to?" (The Daily Show, October 26, 2011) is available on Comedy Central's website: http://thedailyshow.cc.com/videos/x1h7ku/weathering-fights---science--what-s-it-up-to-

NOTE: The portion shown at LOEX is from 0:48-3:23

Possible Activities: 

• Define “peer-review” and explain why it is important
• Research Noelle Nikpour – where has she published or appeared? What can you find out about potential biases of those sources?
• Research Dr. Martin Chalfie. What are his scientific qualifications? 

Possible Activities: 

• Brainstorming: What might be some alternative models for peer-review that would still ensure quality research?
• Problem-based: What are some methods that might increase public understanding of science?
• Problem-based: How can the results of scientific studies reach a larger portion of the general public?
• Critique: In a small group, discuss if the selection of speakers in the video was fair to both sides of the issue. Can you see bias in the selection of interviewees? If so, what could have been done differently to take a more neutral selection approach?

Notes from all groups at the session: 

• What's up with peer review
• Identify the players and their philosophies
• Satire receptivity
• Where do you go for information about sciene?
• Do we need to question science, even from PhDs?
• Do scientists make mistakes from faulty data?
• There's a continuum of authority - PhD is more lilely to be an authority on science than a layperson. But PhDs do make mistakes.
• Define peer review
• What is an authority? What are the signs of authority?
• Conversations with students about authority. Whose authority do you trust?
• Where do political party platforms fall on these issues?

Notes from all groups at the session: 

• Peer-reviewed conversations
• Who should be the authority? Who should comment? What is our role as students, faculty, staff, etc?
• Why are some distrustful of authority?
• What are the motivations?
• What would you accept as an authority?
• Does this type of clip remind you of any other news sources / stories?
• Define: study-based journals
• Authority: what's her credentials and bias
• Satirical news: Show shows editing bias