David Ng, AMBL Director with the Michael Smith Labs at UBC asks us to explore the varied and often surprising nuances of science literacy and effective communication practices.

1. ? ??
1. SEE SOMETHING
2. THINK OF A REASON WHY
3. FIGURE OUT A WAY TO CHECK YOUR REASON
4. AND?
5. NOW, EVERYONE GETS TO DUMP ON YOU
6. REPEAT, UNTIL A CONSENSUS IS FORMED
YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE A
SCIENTIST TO SEE THE MERIT
IN BEING ABLE TO THINK
LIKE A SCIENTIST.
?
(internal energy) (heat) (work)
?
(internal energy) (heat) (work)
(water states) (temperature) (wind, waves)
! CULTURE
SCIENCE

2. PROCESS
FACTS CULTURE
*
In 2012, about half of Americans agreed with the
following statement: “Astrology is not at all scientific.”
According to data from a June 2014 Gallup Poll, 42% of
Americans believe themselves to be fully literate on
matters of avian phylogeny and development (i.e. birds
developed on Day Five, because, you know...
creationism).
The most recent national Climate Change in the
American Mind survey (Nov 2014) found that about 1 in
4 Americans think that global warming is not
happening.
OBJECTIVES:
1. TO INFORM, EDUCATE
2. TO CHANGE BEHAVIOUR
3. TO INCREASE EMPLOYMENT
OPPORTUNITIES
4. TO GEEK OUT
TRUE OR FALSE?
In 2011, the state of North Carolina passed a bill that deemed it
illegal for the sea level to increase greater than a “projected”
20cm by 2100.
Recently a paper was peer reviewed and accepted at the
International Journal of Advanced Computer Technology. The
paper contained used word “f**king” over 500 times.
“Jedi Mind Trick” is a term that has been academically
recognized in psychological research on coercion persuasion.
Research has shown that the more educated Republicans are,
the more likely they will disagree with the scientific consensus
on anthropogenic climate change.
TRUE OR FALSE?
In 2011, the state of North Carolina passed a bill that
deemed it illegal for the sea level to increase greater
than a “projected” 20cm by 2100.
Replacement House Bill 819, section 2, paragraph e.
E6: Global mean sea level rise for 2081–2100 relative to 1986–2005 will likely be in
the ranges of 0.26 to 0.55 m for RCP2.6, 0.32 to 0.63 m for RCP4.5, 0.33 to 0.63 m for
RCP6.0, and 0.45 to 0.82 m for RCP8.5 (medium confidence). For RCP8.5, the rise by
the year 2100 is 0.52 to 0.98 m, with a rate during 2081 to 2100 of 8 to 16 mm yr–1
(medium confidence). These ranges are derived from CMIP5 climate projections in
combination with process-based models and literature assessment of glacier and
ice sheet contributions
TRUE OR FALSE?
Recently a paper was peer reviewed and accepted at
the International Journal of Advanced Computer
Technology. The paper contained used word “f**king”
over 500 times.
TRUE OR FALSE?
“Jedi Mind Trick” is a term that has been academically
recognized in psychological research on coercion
persuasion.

3. COGNITIVE LOAD (FINITE NO. OF ITEMS)
ATTENTION LAPSE (LECTURING)
MOTIVATION
INTERACTION
SIMULATION
PROBLEM SOLVING
SCHEMA BUILDING
FEEDBACK
AESTHETICS*
LEARNING SCIENCE IS HARD WORK
* we’ll come back to this one.
COGNITIVE BIASES ALWAYS FAVOUR SYSTEM 1.
1. 2.
Fast, automatic,
frequent, emotional,
stereotypic,
subconscious
Slow, effortful,
infrequent, logical,
calculating,
conscious
Daniel Kahneman (2011). Thinking, Fast
and Slow. Macmillan.
THINKING SCIENTIFICALLY IS HARD WORK
THE ANCHORING EFFECT
THE SLEEPER EFFECT
FEAR (IS COMPLICATED), LOSS AVERSION
THE FOOT IN THE DOOR EFFECT
AVAILABILITY HEURISTIC, FRAMING
DESCRIPTIVE NORMS (SOCIAL NORMS)
Nice list over at http://psysociety.wordpress.com/2013/02/01/persuading-the-unpersuadable-pre-session-post/
TRUE OR FALSE?
Research has shown that highly educated Republicans
are more likely to disagree with the scientific
consensus on anthropogenic climate change.
CULTURAL
COGNITION
NEW
INFORMATION
PRIOR RISK
ASSESSMENT
REVISED RISK
ASSESSMENT
Adapted from Dan Kahan, Cultural Cognition as a Conception of the Cultural Theory of Risk, in Handbook
of Risk Theory: Epistemology, Decision Theory, Ethics and Social Implications of Risk 725-760 (eds.
Hillerbrand, R., Sandin, P., Roeser, S. & Peterson, M.) (Springer London, Limited, 2012)
Cultural Cognition as a Conception of the Cultural Theory of Risk, in Handbook of Risk Theory:
Epistemology, Decision Theory, Ethics and Social Implications of Risk 725-760 (eds. Hillerbrand, R.,
Sandin, P., Roeser, S. & Peterson, M.) (Springer London, Limited, 2012)
(equalized for “child size”)
phylogame.org | db@mail.ubc.ca | @ng_dave
THIS
NOT
science CREATIVITY
THIS
science CREATIVITY
bioteach.ubc.ca | db@mail.ubc.ca | @ng_dave