On Wednesday, April 18, Jay Ingram will deliver the Faculty of Science’s annual Discovery Lecture. In his lecture, entitled “Truth, an inconvenience”, Ingram will ask: Are we responsible for the changing climate? Are you against genetically modified foods?
According to Ingram, if you have strong views on these controversies it's likely your position depends more on social/cultural factors than on the actual science. It seems counterintuitive, but in fact the more scientifically literate you are, the more those non-scientific factors come into play. Obviously communicating the science of controversies needs to take these surprising findings into account.
Jay Ingram hosted Discovery Channel Canada’s Daily Planet from the first episode in January 1995 to June 2011. Daily Planet is the only hour-long, prime-time daily science show in the world. Prior to joining Discovery, Jay hosted CBC radio’s national science show, Quirks and Quarks, from 1979 to 1992. During that time he won two ACTRA awards, one for best host, and several Canadian Science Writers’ awards. He wrote and hosted two CBC radio documentary series and short radio and television science stories for a variety of programs. He was a contributing editor to Owl magazine for ten years, and wrote a weekly science column in the Toronto Star for twelve. Jay has also written eleven books - which have been translated into twelve languages - and is working on more.
He has received the Sandford Fleming medal from the Royal Canadian Institute for his efforts to popularize science, the Royal Society’s McNeil medal for the Public Awareness of Science and the Michael Smith award from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council. He is a Distinguished Alumnus of the University of Alberta, has received five honorary doctorates and is a member of the Order of Canada.
The 2012 Discovery Lecture will be held on Wednesday, April 18, at 7:30 pm in the Kailash Mital Theatre in Southam Hall. All are welcome. Free lecture.
Free parking in Lot 1/Library Garage