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 28 August 2008 06:01 BST

Public 'tone deaf' to science

Thursday, 18 Oct 2007 13:10
Not enough people are interested in science, expert claims

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The majority of the public is "tone deaf to science", one of Britain's most eminent clinician scientists said today.

Professor Mark Pepys, head of medicine at the Hampstead campus of University College London, warned that poor science education in schools and "junk science" promoted in the media have resulted in little understanding of quality science.

He said this lack of scientific knowledge in the general public is "a terrible deprivation".

"Lack of exposure to science and grossly inadequate scientific education in schools has created a population which is as effectively cut-off from understanding science and how it operates, as a totally tone deaf individual is cut-off from appreciation and enjoyment of music," he said.

Outlining the theory of 'junk science', he claimed that headline-grabbing science is preventing high-quality research reaching the public.

"Editors hungry for high impact papers, and reviewers who are less than adequately knowledgeable, experienced or critical, can lead to publication of really bad science in respected journals," said Professor Pepys.

"If the case happens to have medical or public health impact the attendant consequences can be extremely serious."

His comments are to be expressed in the prestigious Harveian Oration lecture at the Royal College of Physicians.
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