Randy Olson's "Don't Be SUCH a Scientist: Talking Substance in an Age of Style," Introduction

 

"Intellectuals don't act, they think and talk."

At least that's what Randy Olson's acting teacher told him, and that's the entire point of Don't Be Such a Scientist: Talking Substance in an Age of Style.

This guy know what he's talking about, too. He went from being a tenured professor of biology at a major research university to becoming a documentary filmmaker who first wanted to become an actor. So he knows all about the difference between intellectuals and actors. He's tried it both ways. And now he kind of has it both ways. After all, he makes films about scientific subjects like climate change.

In essence, he communicates science.

If, like me, you have sat through a conference on communicating science, then this book is probably for you. When he presented at such a conference, Olson says,

"I sat there that morning in disbelief as the speakers--supposedly the best of the best when it comes to presenting science to the public--gave some of the dullest, most uninspiring presentations I've ever seen." (7)

And the book's full of "inspirational" anecdotes like that, almost like he's goading scientists into communicating better. Because he desperately wants scientists to do better. In fact, he says, they must do better, or our planet will suffer through various problems such as, well, climate change.

Randy Olson is great at explaining this stuff. As a "scientist-turned-filmmaker," he went to Hollywood to learn to communicate with people, and his stories fill Don't be Such a Scientist.

As we will see next time, he describes the way scientists are and then tries to make suggestions for how they can do better. Doing better, for Olson, means communicating better. And he makes his points primarily by relating hilarious stories.

Stay tuned.