[Coral-List] sexy scientists

Fri Mar 10 21:09:28 EST 2006

i've really enjoyed reading everyone's comments on the list-serve.  what an amazing forum.  and so on the subj of the "sexy scientist" and the involvement of hollywood, why aren't forums like this one open to more people?  how can we - those of us working in coral reef conservation, science or going to school for, etc - make these issues open to the general public?  hollywood is a good idea, but ideas like imax, aquanauts, sir d. attenborough...those are amazing!  because those are people with passion and love who appeal to people because of their passion and love.  that translates to general public.  so many of us were first affected through nature shows.  maybe today people need something more.  there used to be this great show called "first wave" i think.  and it was a young couple, the woman a social scientist i think and the man a marine biologist?  i'm sorry, i'm a bit unclear about the show because it was always on random channels and 'inaccessible.'  but the concept was
 amazing.  and this couple traveled around the world and interacted with local cultures and communities and scientists and other young, attractive friends of theirs would tag along and they'd involve themselves in local efforts and explain to the audience the relevance of nature in a local context and in a cultural context as well.  but it was fun and different.  those are the kinds of shows we need.  people getting out there and being innovative about conservation issues and social issues and cultural issues which are so intertwined.  its like the trend in "eco-tourism" these days.  involving people in a variety of issues, social and scientific, that all relate and giving them a slice of the world foreign to them...something they can grasp onto and relate to, through a different medium like tv or film.  that's what inspires and excites people, right?  that's my two cents.  this is my first time to write something on here...anyway, thanks...

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Today's Topics:

1. Subject: Hollywood (Caspar Henderson)
2. sexy scientist comments (Paul Sanchez-Navarro)
3. Can sex sell coral reefs? (Paula Morgan)
4. Web TV and 3d surface area (luke.odonnell at jcu.edu.au)

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Message: 1
Date: Fri, 10 Mar 2006 17:37:56 +0000
From: "Caspar Henderson" 
Subject: [Coral-List] Subject: Hollywood
To: coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov, "Gregor Hodgson"
, "Steven Miller" 
Message-ID: 
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

To Gregor Hodgson, Steve Miller and colleagues,

The IMAX film and Trippin' have surely helped.

Hollywood can have its dangers. I read that audiences polled after seeing
"The Day After Tomorrow" mostly said that if that's what climate change was
about then they didn't believe it.

The late Darell Addison Posey, the real-life original on whom Medicine Man
is said to have been based (and who I knew quite well), was appaled by it.

Still, Hollywood and associated independents do show occasional signs of
growing up with recent films like Goodnight and Goodluck, Crash and
Capote etc.
No offence meant, but I would stay away from Stephen Gaghan as a director if
not writer because Syriana - while serious and occasionally enlightening -
is hard to follow and is unlikely to reach or entertain a mass market.

I am a writer - books not films - and am working on a (non-fiction) account
of the death of the world's coral reefs - perhaps the first ecosystem to be
eliminated by global warming - and what can be done. I'm interested to
follow and report on your efforts for the book

Caspar Henderson
http://coralstory.blogspot.com/

On 10/03/06, coral-list-request at coral.aoml.noaa.gov

wrote:
>
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> than "Re: Contents of Coral-List digest..."
>
>
> Today's Topics:
>
> 1. Hollywood (Gregor Hodgson)
> 2. Re: Disease (shashank Keshavmurthy)
> 3. Re: Did you see that sexy scientist on the news lastnight?
>
> Resiliency continued... really (germane at nova.edu)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Thu, 9 Mar 2006 11:24:39 -0800
> From: "Gregor Hodgson" 
> Subject: [Coral-List] Hollywood
> To: "'Steven Miller'" , "'Coral List'"
> 
> Message-ID: <007f01c643af$1c018fc0$0202a8c0 at toshibauser>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
> Steve,
>
> Correct as usual. Ignorance is enemy #1. We need to develop a global
> constituency. Some Coral Listers may be interested to know how Reef Check
> is
> working hard with Hollywood to rectify the problems you note.
>
> Reef Check and others worked to help ensure the scientific quality and
> appropriate messaging of the IMAX film Coral Reef Adventure. We brought
> the
> film to show to government Ministers at the Joberg Summit and that film
> has
> now been seen by 20 million around the world and is still showing. There
> is
> a DVD available for people in countries without an IMAX theatre and
> producer
> MacGillivray Freemen provided many free copies for them.
>
> This past year, Dr. Ruben Torres, Executive Director of RC Dominican
> Republic was a co-star of an MTV show called Trippin' focusing on MPAs in
> Honduras with Cameron Diaz and Jessica Alba shown to 30 million here in
> the
> US alone and now showing overseas. Another MTV show with surf star Kelly
> Slater and our Dr. Craig Shuman, was shot last month in Kona.
>
> Working with such productions is a nightmare -- one of the most
> frustrating
> and difficult outreach efforts that we do, but it is the only way to reach
> millions at one time, especially kids.
>
> One of our goals is to facilitate a full-length Hollywood feature film
> similar to Medicine Man but with a reef theme. The producers are
> interested
> but want to see some scripts.....any budding writers out there???
>
> We are working on an A-list "celeb" spokesperson for reefs....
>
> Gregor Hodgson, PhD
> Executive Director, Reef Check Foundation
> P.O. Box 1057 (mail)
> 17575 Pacific Coast Highway (Fedex)
> Pacific Palisades, CA 90272-1057
> Tel: +1-310-230-2371 Fax: +1-310-230-2376
> email: gregorh at reefcheck.org
> www.ReefCheck.org
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Thu, 9 Mar 2006 16:39:13 -0800 (PST)
> From: shashank Keshavmurthy < iamshanky15 at yahoo.com>
> Subject: Re: [Coral-List] Disease
> To: Victor Gomelyuk ,
> coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
> Message-ID: <20060310003913.5519.qmail at web31814.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
>
> Dear Victor and others
>
> I feek it is very difficult to distinguish
> between the effects of corallivores like Drupella
> sp. and other infections. Becasue many times we
> may not see the presence of these predators as
> they are continuously on move from one coral to
> another. So when we dont see any of these
> feeding on corals we may easily confuse it to
> something else. Visit this link,
> http://homepage.mac.com/coralresearch/PhotoAlbum7.html
>
>
> I have posted some photos of Acropora hyacinthus
> and Acropora formosa infected and being infected
> with Drupella. Photos of A. hyacinthus looks
> somoewhat similar to the one sent by Victor.
> There is no presence of Drupella, but it is
> Drupella infection.
>
> Regards
> shashank
>
> "the role of infinitely small in nature is infinitely large"-Louis Pasteur
>
>
> Keshavmurthy Shashank
> phD candidate
> Kochi University, Graduate School of Kuroshio Science
> Laboratory of Environmental Conservation
> Otsu 200, Monobe, Nankoku-shi
> 783-8502, Kochi, Japan
> alt. id: shashank at cc.kochi-u.ac.jp
> phone: 81 090 8285 9012
>
> __________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!?
> Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
> http://mail.yahoo.com
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Fri, 10 Mar 2006 00:13:20 -0500
> From: germane at nova.edu
> Subject: Re: [Coral-List] Did you see that sexy scientist on
> the news
> lastnight? Resiliency continued... really
> To: coral-list at aoml.noaa.gov
> Message-ID: <20060310001320.o8rs0s1vvo808k8s at mail.acast.nova.edu >
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format="flowed"
>
> There used to be a really good show on the Discovery channel called
> Aquanauts. It was a group of young scientist (most didnt have PhDs),
> that went around checking out different scientifically significant
> locations and trying out different marine technology. I really enjoyed
> that show bc it was young and hip. It was reality crossed with
> Informative Science.
>
> I think they had a good idea when they did March of the Penguins
> Documentary film. It was a tiny bit of science mixed with "drama". More
> interesting Documentary films with some more science would be a good
> thing. That way you have reality, but only with the parts you want the
> world to see.
>
> There is the Crocodile Hunter, What about the Coral Reef Hunter or the
> Ocean Hunter ha ha...Different Scientists exploring different marine
> habitats.
>
> Audrey Germane
> Masters Student Nova Southeastern University
>
>
>
>
> Quoting Andrew Williams :
>
> > I am sorry, but is this a serious suggestion?
> >
> > Reality TV will almost certainly be twisted into a marketable product
> > (i.e. will lose it's 'high brow' motives) and in my opinion, only
> > really targets the grade school audiences that you have already
> > mentioned. Personally, just hearing the words Reality TV has me
> > reaching for the remote control. I would be genuinely concerned that
> > instead of creating a 'hero' we would end up making the whole subject
> > a joke, undermining it's importance and not reinforcing it.
> >
> > Has no one heard of Sir David Attenborough? That would be a model
> > that I would advocate replicating, although good nature programs are
> > usually focused on the macro-fauna like tigers, lions, dolphins and
> > other 'fluffy' good looking animals. I am not sure a 45 minute
> > program on macro algae (ex-coral reefs) would have the same 'eye
> > candy' value. There are an abundance of these type of programs out
> > there already, I am not convinced their lack of success is down to
> > the 'sexiness' of the presenter.
> >
> > People of the 'hollywood generation' seek to escape reality, with
> > implausible lucky escapes and happy endings, I am not sure pandering
> > to these ideals is constructive. Painting this picture of
> > unsustainable development with a rosey sheen is only going to
> > re-inforce the apathy, the business as usual ethos.
> >
> > What happened to the world post Dec 28th 2004 Tsunami? The global
> > public showed its ability for understanding and compassion - this is
> > a 'market' (sorry that is a very inappropriate use of the word) that
> > needs to be tapped. I say forget hollywood, tone down the
> > exaggeration and sensationalism, start telling people the truth, like
> > they are intelligent human beings and you may find that they respond
> > as such.
> >
> > BW
> >
> > Andrew
> >
> > ________________________________
> >
> > From: coral-list-bounces at coral.aoml.noaa.gov on behalf of Sinclair,
> James
> > Sent: Thu 09/03/2006 13:12
> > To: Steven Miller; Coral List
> > Subject: Re: [Coral-List] Did you see that sexy scientist on the news
> > lastnight? Resiliency continued... really
> >
> >
> >
> > I think Steve has some good points. Let's brainstorm it.
> >
> >
> >
> > Here's one idea: Reality TV.
> >
> >
> >
> > We need to take it a step beyond "Bill Nye the Science Guy" and "The
> > Crocodile Hunter" to target audiences older than grade school. As much
> > as I detest most reality TV shows, I have to admit that they reach
> > audiences and result in recognition and even fame.
> >
> >
> >
> > There are lots of ways this could be done to feature science and
> > scientists. (I'll let everyone on the List develop their own ideas, to
> > boost creativity). Such a show could be considered the upper crust of
> > reality TV, with a basis in something significant (not pointless) and an
> > atmosphere of respect (not crass). (I don't mind skewing your ideas
> > towards culture and significance. I'm sure Hollywood will skew the end
> > product toward frivolous and vulgar).
> >
> >
> >
> > This will take money and organization but may best be done by
> > whoever-it-is that sponsors Hollywood reality TV. That way, the
> > majority of the logistics will be arranged by people who already have
> > the resources and know-how to produce a TV show.
> >
> >
> >
> > Care to venture some ideas of how to make this work? Or a totally
> > different approach?
> >
> > Thanks!
> > James
> >
> > James Sinclair, Marine Biologist
> > Minerals Management Service
> > Gulf of Mexico Region
> >
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: coral-list-bounces at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
> > [mailto:coral-list-bounces at coral.aoml.noaa.gov] On Behalf Of Steven
> > Miller
> > Sent: Wednesday, March 08, 2006 9:31 PM
> > To: Coral List
> > Subject: [Coral-List] Did you see that sexy scientist on the news last
> > night? Resiliency continued... really
> >
> >
> >
> > Changing the subject just a little, I believe that one of the reasons
> >
> > scientists are so easy to ignore these days is that we don't have any
> >
> > nationally or internationally known personalities who speak for our
> >
> > discipline. I'm talking about no Einsteins, Carsons, Sagans, or
> >
> > Cousteaus. We certainly don't have any ocean advocates who are
> >
> > effective outside the realm of academics or NGOs. Absent are
> >
> > charismatic, camera-savvy, camera-friendly, willing, and respectable
> >
> > scientists who are widely known and accepted by the public as
> >
> > entertaining and truthful. In my opinion, our failure is related to the
> >
> >
> > fact that today's media environment requires an approach that is outside
>
> >
> >
> > the comfort zone of most scientists. It's not about arguing better
> >
> > because that doesn't work and it's boring. But that's what we're good
> >
> > at, arguing. We need famous, entertaining, and trusted (heroic would be
>
> >
> >
> > good too) scientists to speak for the ocean.
> >
> >
> >
> > How do we foster development of such spokespersons? We need platforms
> >
> > to showcase the talents of our best communicators and hope that a few
> >
> > have that "something special" that allows them to connect broadly with
> >
> > audiences. Platforms that currently exist to showcase "talent" are
> >
> > traditional in the sense that TV news and documentaries are routine
> >
> > activities that touch the lives of many scientists. Platforms we need
> >
> > but don't have include what is best described as a marriage between
> >
> > Hollywood and science. What characterizes these hybrid science and
> >
> > Hollywood platforms is that they are entertaining, including comedy,
> >
> > emotion, drama, maybe even sex (thus my headline above).
> >
> >
> >
> > I don't exactly have the answer about how to make such a thing happen,
> >
> > other than we need to try lots of different things. We know the
> >
> > conventional stuff does not work. What might be unconventional?
> >
> > Development programs that send scientists to Hollywood to learn about
> >
> > script writing, filmmaking, even acting classes! And then let these
> >
> > scientists loose with their new skills (fund them to do stuff). And
> >
> > don't hold it against them when tenure decisions come up! Most will
> >
> > never become famous but I bet they will produce some really good stuff
> >
> > that will be important in other ways so its a no-lose proposal. Who
> >
> > knows, maybe one or two will produce something that helps launch a path
> >
> > to stardom (but not so they have to give up their day jobs).
> >
> >
> >
> > I have other ideas too, but my agent told me not to let everything out
> >
> > of the bag... ha ha ha. Not. Seriously, we need help in the area of
> >
> > communications and I'm not talking about bigger budgets to do more of
> >
> > the same old stuff. And I'm not talking about how to talk better with
> >
> > the press. That's an issue, but it's a conventional issue. I'm
> >
> > suggesting that we need to find and nurture a generation of scientists
> >
> > who seriously understand the new media landscape of public relations
> >
> > firms, sound bites, and all the rest (the Hollywood element). And who
> >
> > get famous! Of course, these scientists have to be excellent and well
> >
> > respected in their fields because you can bet they will be attacked
> >
> > (maybe first and most viciously by their peers). This new
> >
> > communications paradigm requires an investment in infrastructure and
> >
> > training that I believe is missing, and worse is shunned, in today's
> >
> > academic world. But that could change... maybe.... eventually....
> >
> > tomorrow would be good.
> >
> >
> >
> > I suggest that innovative communication strategies that marry Hollywood
> >
> > and science also apply to organizations, especially environmental NGOs.
> >
> >
> > When I say Hollywood I don't mean using Hollywood stars to front (the
> >
> > talking head syndrome) for scientific or environmental issues. I mean
> >
> > the techniques of Hollywood that make issues and people interesting and
> >
> > entertaining, worth watching.
> >
> >
> >
> > Finally, I understand that people can do important things, make
> >
> > important discoveries, with a secondary result being that they become
> >
> > famous. I don't think we are likely to see such discoveries within the
> >
> > realm of ocean science. But I could be wrong. Expeditionary science
> >
> > still has an important role to play and it's possible that placing the
> >
> > right people on ships and in subs, with the right documentary
> >
> > filmmakers, might eventually create Cousteau-like fame. But we need to
> >
> > do more. I'm suggesting a pro-active approach that uses a core group of
>
> >
> >
> > people who are already good scientists and making them really special
> >
> > communicators, and then hoping a few of them won't mind becoming famous
> >
> > too, if the opportunity arises.
> >
> >
> >
> > Best regards.
> >
> >
> >
> > Steven Miller, Ph.D.
> >
> > Research Professor
> >
> > UNC Wilmington
> >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> >
> > Coral-List mailing list
> >
> > Coral-List at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
> >
> > http://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/mailman/listinfo/coral-list
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Coral-List mailing list
> > Coral-List at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
> > http://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/mailman/listinfo/coral-list
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Coral-List mailing list
> > Coral-List at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
> > http://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/mailman/listinfo/coral-list
> >
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
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>
> End of Coral-List Digest, Vol 33, Issue 14
> ******************************************
>

--
Caspar Henderson
Will coral reefs be the first ecosystem to be eliminated by global
warming?
Join the investigation at: http://coralstory.blogspot.com/
Grain of Sand Ltd
+44 (0)7949 140 581
http://jebin08.blogspot.com/
"fatti non foste a viver come bruti,
ma per seguir virtute e canoscenza"

------------------------------

Message: 2
Date: Fri, 10 Mar 2006 10:06:49 -0800 (PST)
From: Paul Sanchez-Navarro 

Subject: [Coral-List] sexy scientist comments
To: coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
Message-ID: <20060310180649.23953.qmail at web34609.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

Just wanted to add that another reason you don't see too many scientists as charismatic personalities is because most societies don't want to acknowledge the findings being presented on what is happening to our ecosystems, water, food supplies, top soils, marine resources, or the planet's species. This is even greater if the findings may demonstrate something that questions the current irrational use of natural resources, or if the scientist or the science does not help support the political opinions of current ruling capitalist political-economies. 
The struggle to define a process that might help us understand and live within the limits of our planet should not be so difficult, but as long as the well-being of life (humans and other species) is not a main goal this will remain precisely that - a struggle. This is why we (the non-scientist environmentalist and the scientist) must continue to work together, there may not be enough time for a scientist to do impeccable research and then lobby it, nor should the science be alone. So, thanks to the great work of so many scientists we move forward, just gotta figure out how to have greater impact in changing human behaviour in less time. 

Paul

------------------------------

Message: 3
Date: Fri, 10 Mar 2006 14:31:58 -0800 (PST)

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