The Negative Portrayal of Science in New Zealand Media
Here in New Zealand, we have a pretty good track record of scientific mindedness. Most people I know in real life are fairly like-minded individuals. The people I work with are the same, we accept scientific consensus of evidence. But, go on facebook and check the comment section of an article written in a pro-science light, and you would be shocked (or not, depending on your knowledge of general ignorance) to find that there is a large number of people who disagree and even think science is pure belief. Now, obviously, this is wrong. Science has nothing to do with belief. Science is about evidence. Facts. Generally, these articles that are written in a pro-science light are about vaccination, for some reason a highly debated topic. It shouldn't be. Vaccines are safe. Here is a small selection of pro-vaccine stories from Stuff: http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/92966563/to-facilitate-antivaccine-rhetoric-as-debate-is-dangerous-and-wrong?cid=facebook.post.92...