Manawatu scientists' writing endorsed

WARWICK SMITH/ Manawatu Standard

PRIZED: Massey University Emeritis Professor Dr Tim Brown and head of UCOL School of Applied Health Sciences Dr David Shillington have collected a Royal Society of New Zealand award for promoting science to the public through their columns in the Manawatu Standard.

Relevant offers

They've chatted about the contraceptive pill, commented on global warming and waxed lyrical about windmills – and now two Manawatu scientists have received top accolades for keeping it real.

Tim Brown and David Shillington have each been awarded a Royal Society of New Zealand certificate of excellence, for their work in the promotion of science in Manawatu.

Over the past 4 1/2 years, the two friends have written 240 columns between them for publication in the Manawatu Standard.

On alternate Mondays, Dr Shillington writes Analyse This, while Dr Brown pens Analyse That. Each week, they try to address the hottest scientific topic in an interesting way.

Dr Brown said the pair were happy their work had been acknowledged – and somewhat surprised that their columns had been such a hit.

When then Standard editor Jo Myers approached them with the idea of writing a column in 2004, they were skeptical about how it would be received.

"We thought, do the public want to read that?" Dr Brown said. "As time went on, I kept saying to myself `What are we going to write about?' but it just comes up every week."

They try to focus on topical events, introducing personal anecdotes, to lighten the content.

"The point is to try to get facts across in a clear and uncomplicated manner, without jargon," Dr Shillington said.

Science is not just confined to a laboratory, they say. Evidence of development through technology is everywhere – whether it be the clothes people wear, or the chairs they sit on, Dr Shillington said.

And if the Government is to invest more in the sciences, it's important that people know what their country is investing in.

"We are telling the general public that science is not frightening and incomprehensible, and that science and its development is important to this country for its future growth and quality of life."

They also hoped to destroy the myth of the scientist as a boring, unapproachable figure confined to the bunsen burner.

"We have done a little bit to help change things," he said.

- © Fairfax NZ News