Academic Discourse in the Age of Popular Media
Thursday, February 18, 1999
4:00 - 6:00 p.m.
Bartos Theater
MIT Media Lab
20 Ames Street
This forum aims to explore the ways in which academic ideas have been disseminated to the public in recent years and how (or whether) this has changed the professional priorities and research of scholars. Speakers may explore some of the following questions:
- What is the role of the "public intellectual"?
- What factors have led to the professionalization of academic discourse through time? Has there been a change in the interactions between the public and the academy?
- How does the journalistic work of scholars and researchers compare with that of professional journalists? Are there discernible differences in depth or basic content between the two?
- Is the academy moving away from specialization? Is this trend, if it exists, having an effect on the dissemination of knowledge to the public?
- Is there a difference in attitude and perception in the academy itself toward the popularization of natural science versus social science or humanities?
- How is the emphasis on interdisciplinary thought likely to shape the writing pursuits of scientists?
- Should popular publications count in judging candidates for tenure?
- Has the power of the popular media in disseminating information and providing financial rewards affected research? Is the lure of celebrity a danger for academics?
William Calvin, University of Washington
Stephen J. Gould, Harvard
Alan Lightman, MIT
Lester Thurow, MIT
Organizer: Saleem Ali, MIT
[The draft manuscript of a book-in-progress titled
Beyond the Ivory Tower with contributions
from William Calvin and Alan Lightman is available online.]
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