What a great question - ought to be explored. Good for you. I've certainly got some opinions about how the popular sci fi has provided a vision for people of what the future will look like, and now we find technology designers and inventors will make the tools to lead us there, whether it's a good idea or not. Because that IS the future, isn't it? The books have essentially said so by putting the image in people's mind!
I think the ideas of living in space and planet travel are particularly relevant to the examination of the difference between how the world works and how people envision it working - Space is such a blank stage for sci fi writers to sketch on, and much less connected to what's really possible or understood.
In any case, I'm actually quite interested in the fact that you're able to do graduate work on this topic...may I ask what program & where? I might have to look into something similar myself..
Thanks,
Rebecca
All I really know about this is that a bunch of 12-13 year old kids a colleague is working with regard Buffy the Vampire Slayer and the X Files as science TV shows and don't seem to see the different between sci-fi and science...
Katie Eagleton
We taught Robotics Camps for quite a few years at our museum, including video clips from old movies (RUR, Metropolis, Forbidden Planet, Black Hole, etc.) and Isaac Asimov's robot science fiction books, which is where the "3 Laws of Robotics" originated. There are a lot of ties between rocketry and space travel with science fiction, too. Then there are the books like "The Physics of Star Trek." Perhaps searches based on some of these themes will lead you to some data on the general public's understanding of science and technology through science fiction.
Becky Fox Matthews
Programs Manager
Cumberland Science Museum
I can tell you probably more from an anecdotal viewpoint than from hardcore research...several years ago I was working on the design of an exhibition on genetics and biotechnology at the St. Louis Science Center. I found that it was critical for the whole crew (not just the floor staff, but the artists and designers as well) to pay close attantion to popular culture. There was a period of time when it seemed that every other week, a movie, a book, SOMETHING was coming out on DNA. GATTACA was a case in point (fyi, NOBODY got that the
words GATTACA was DNA code...). As soon as they hit the public, we started getting phone calls from general public AND the newsmedia - "How true is this stuff?" Don't ask what went on regarding cloning, the OJ trial, the genome project, and all the announcements about finding X gene...I think it is exceptionally important to pay attention because popular culture tends to color public views, not necessarily understanding of S&T. I think it is fair to say that
space exploration is probably one of the biggest areas where this has happened. Look at the popularity of space films, "The Physics of
Star Trek" etc. Sometimes it works, sometimes it drives the direction of research and understanding, sometimes it reflects it, and sometimes it's just plain fantasy! Now we are facing the same thing with Spielberg's film, "AI". Apparently much background for the film was done at the MIT labs (where AI was and still is a major thing and where I am now...) and we are expecting phonecalls and a blip in our visitation...
Another anecdote - when the Indiana Jones movies started coming out,
someone (don't remember the name of the student) wrote a dissertation
on the sudden increase in the number of students entering college with an interest in archaeology (and who, once they found out it was NOT like the films and required a helluva lot more work...) subsequently dropped out. There's a really good case of false interpretation of what science is - archaeology ain't treasure hunting! You might be able to track it through University Microfims
or throught Society for American Archaeology. Good luck!
Another couple of thoughts off the top of my head (Elin will be able to confirm my highly developed work avoidance strageties :-) ).
I see at least two aspects to the topic:
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can the undeniable interest in science fiction effectively be used to attract more students to study science at school and university; and can public fascination with the ideas lead to greater engagement with science in their everyday lives?
On the first point (which I fully agree with) I think Woolnough has published some surveys of reasons pupils choose to study science at school and science fiction figured in some of these reports (you could try back issues of the School Science Review). Motivation is the key to learning. I'm undecided on the second point - personally I cannot suspend my disbelief succiently to enjoy reading/watching science fiction - "if you can change one of the laws of physics why stop there - anything then becomes possible"/ truth is often stranger than fiction/ science fiction can led to confusion in the public's minds as contemporary scientific issues assume an increasingly sinster and powerful role
"The general public has long been divided into two parts; those who think science can do anything, and those who are afraid it will." So does science fiction spark interest in accepted scientific ideas or fuel horror stories of wholesale human cloning?
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can the speculative nature of science fiction sometimes preempt scientific discoveries and breakthroughs?
There is quite a bit of evidence of this kind of stuff. Although these incidents make good stories I don't feel that we should be really surprised that non-scientists as well as scientists can make these kind of leaps. To me it just shows how fundamental (but underrated) the qualities of imagination and creativity are in science.
But that takes us into another dissertation. I'd better stop my meanderings there before I bore you completely! It's a fascinating topic and good luck with it. I know that at times it feels like it's never going to be finished/why am I doing this/ etc.
Let me know if you feel I can do anything else to help.
Paul McCrory
Demonstration Leader
whowhatwherewhenwhy W5
at Odyssey
2 Queen's Quay
Belfast