Forwarding a ‘science-ethics nexus’ to critique and reorient science education pedagogy toward greater social and ecological justice

In this paper, I engage with arguments put forth by Blue Mahy in his article “A speculative-posthumanist examination of the ‘science-ethics nexus’ in Australian secondary schools.” Mahy argues that by using relational posthumanist concepts as a diffractive lens, his critiques of Australian school science standards find the underlying hegemonies of masculine, Euro-Western ideologies that infuse the stance on ethics in science education. He uses a ‘plug in process’ of posthumanist concepts to generate a ‘speculative fiction’. This is a method used to reclaim ethics and science by creating narratives produced by the diffracted projections of posthumanist concepts. In my own research on science teacher education, I explore Mahy's use of diffraction for both critiquing science curriculum and providing projections for future ethical commitments in school science education. I utilize data from my science methods course which is situated in Central California’s agricultural region at a largely Hispanic-Serving Institution.

     

How Mexico is Striving to Nurture Booksellers and Promote Reading

Citing the small number of bookstores in operation and a poor average annual book consumption among readers in Mexico, publishing industry professionals have long lamented the moribund state of the industry, while calling for more effective legislation to protect both publishers and booksellers and the creation of programs to promote reading among citizens of all ages. But in the last couple of years moves have been made to nurture the book industry and create greater awareness of the importance of reading as a vital cultural pastime, through training programs and by harnessing technological innovation, and while there is still much work to be done, publishers and booksellers alike are optimistic that they are making progress.     

Facial Similarity Mitigates the Persuasive Effects of Source Bias: An Evolutionary Explanation for Kinship and Susceptibility to Influence

This research examined how the interaction between a source's facial similarity to message targets and communicated bias affects audience persuadability. We used an evolutionary explanation to hypothesize that biased sources would elicit less favorable attitudes than unbiased sources for dissimilar sources, but that this difference would be absent for similar sources. Predictions were supported by results from a 2 (facial similarity) × 2 (source bias) experiment, in which an unrecognizable percentage of participants' photographs (n = 94) was digitally morphed with a source's face to act as a kinship cue. Further, structural equation modeling demonstrated a direct effect of facial similarity on attitude independent of mediation by source liking and appraisals, providing further evidence that susceptibility to influence from facially similar sources may have evolutionary origins.     

The influence of race on attitudes about college athletics

The questions of whether college student-athletes should be paid and/or allowed to unionize have generated a wide-ranging national debate. Public opinion on these issues is starkly divided along racial lines, with African-Americans dramatically more supportive than non-African-Americans. We posit that the race gap stems from fundamentally distinct mindsets. African-Americans view pay for play and unionization as mechanisms to enhance educational experiences and hence as a form of affirmative action. Non-African-Americans, in contrast, focus on the extent to which they enjoy the consumption value of college athletics. We present results from a nationally representative survey experiment that supports our expectations. We also find that non-African-Americans can be swayed to employ a more race-based lens on these issues, although this re-framing does not diminish the attitudinal race gap. We conclude with a discussion about race, sports and public opinion.     

60秒科学

60秒科学是一个电台节目,用一分钟的时间为大家带来新鲜、有趣的科学新闻,听众只需花一分钟便能轻松掌握科技发展新方向。大家喜欢阳光的味道吗?如果衣服上总有一股阳光的气息该多好。衣物洗涤剂、柔顺剂、空气清新剂……所有这些似乎都能做到,然而我们并不知道其香味的秘密。一起来研究一下吧。Got a minute?