British Association for the Advancement of Science Quotes
Museums, free libraries, and art galleries have this in common: that they are each expected to fulfill two purposes which are somewhat incongruous, and require to be pursued by different methods and with different appliances. Each of these institutions is expected to minister to the wants both of trained students and of the untrained and ignorant public; and the demands of these two classes of persons are so diverse that they must be provided for separately
This separation has been the norm in Britain and America since then, except in the latter part of the 20th century, many institutions have adopted a public education mission and program and the elite scientists have become leaders in educating the general public. This followed the Model of the New York American Museum of Natural History —originally an elite science institution which became a leader in public education while maintaining the science program,
British Association for the Advancement of Science, Report on Museums, ~1890
Sourced by: Eigen's Political and Historical Quotations
Out of this quote came the aphorism, “the man in Whitehall knows best.” For commentary on the meaning and intention behind Jay’s aphorism, see Dalyell {599122}
This is a very material quotation with regard to Congress creating science-related policies and legislation. The members of Congress know the least about scientific matters than almost anything else that they have to legislate about. So typically they rely on scientific experts. Scientists are witnesses at Congressional hearings and often the political, polarized staff arrange to have scientists who disagree in something. They both have PhDs in the field, but one may be a great scientists and the other, a lightweight. This is where Alverez’s point becomes so critical. The Congress and staff have to learn how to differentiate between a “second rater” or a “Fermi” one of the great physicists of all time.
There has been a suspicion and distrust of scientist by the general population in almost all societies throughout human history. Dewey thought America was entering a new intellectual enlightenment and there was an improvement for a short time, but scientists then tended to come under two criticisms by the general public. One was the new “knowledge” they were claiming which not only contradicted much of general religious dogma, but change started coming so fast that people were told to reject that which only a few years earlier they were told to accept and vica versa. At the same time, some groups in society began to be distrustful of scientists because they did not appear to be controllable by the means and methods of the rest of the society and were viewed as “loose cannons” who might not fit into democratic society in the manner that the leaders of society wanted. Both suspicions have existed since then.
He meant to say “repository” and not “suppository”. The latter is a capsule of medicine that is placed inside the rectum.
Snow was one of the first people to call attention to problem of the intellectual gulf between most educated people and scientists. As politicians generally fall into the former group, they have had a particularly difficult time dealing with scientific issues since the scientific revolution of the 20th century produced this cultural chasm. See {635974} for one of his conclusions.
“Vulgar” referred to the common man or woman, as opposed to the highly educated and titled members of the aristocracy.
The British Science Association (BSA) is a charity and learned society founded in 1831 to aid in the promotion and development of science. Until 2009 it was known as the British Association for the Advancement of Science (BA). The current Chief Executive is Katherine Mathieson. The BSA's mission is to get more people engaged in the field of science by coordinating, delivering, and overseeing different projects that are suited to achieve these goals. The BSA "envisions a society in which a diverse group of people can learn and apply the sciences in which they learn." and is managed by a professional staff located at their Head Office in the Wellcome Wolfson Building. The BSA offers a wide variety of activities and events that both recognize and encourage people to be involved in science. These include the British Science Festival, British Science Week, the CREST Awards, Huxley Summit, Media Fellowships Scheme, along with regional and local events.
