h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hi folks.

This is not strictly a science question, more of a question seeking views and opinions.

I have recently completed the BBC Trust online survey about BBCs 1,2 and 4 at http://tinyurl.com/SExbbcsurvey and amongst many comments made and opinions expressed I put forward the view that there is not enough science and technology coverage on the BBC and what there is seems to have dumbed down in recent times.

I also expressed the view that the BBC seems to be afraid of mainstreaming science and technology and that there is a perception that it is too difficult to understand therefore we will not broadcast it.

I was unable to fully express my views on this specifically in relation to rolling news and I will be doing this separately.

My questions to you all are:
1. Do you agree with my perceptions or am I missing something?
2. Should the BBC be broadcasting intellectually challenging science and technology programmes?
3. Do you think that there is an audience out there for this type of programming that would enjoy and respond positively to the challenge and stimulation it would provide?

t.

Not living in the UK at the moment, I can't comment on what's on the TV there, but certainly the BBC's science coverage on their website is appalling. Coverage is incredibly shallow and often misleading, and it seems like the only science news that gets regular reports are health stories about how red wine is good for you one week, bad for you the next, and so on.

Haha! After posting that I went to the BBC news front page and there was an article on whether white wine or red wine is worse for your teeth!

Like Dogster (hi Dogster, how you doing?), I'm not living in the UK at the moment, so can't really answer question 1, but to questions 2 and 3 I have to say yes!

Noggin

This is a problem with the media in general. I have to give the BBC points for screening the fantastic Einstein and Eddington (though the impression that Eddington had one great moment and then spent his life worrying about his faith was pretty misleading), and also for Bang Goes the Theory.

Oh, and to answer the other questions, yes they should show more challenging science and technology programmes, or just more in depth; and yes I think there's an audience.

It's hard to tell from here (one-third of the world away) but I think there are terrific programs, at least what I've seen of them. Why those programs aren't airing where you can see them is absolutely nuts.

As for the red wine white wine health and science debate, I'll drink to that!


HN

You can't win with wine, red wine stains your teeth

I hardly watch TV these days, I'm sure it used to be more informative many years ago. I prefer Radio 4.

Hey Nog! I'm doing well - busy these days so not around so much. How about you?

That's why my teeth are red.

Seriously though, the geek/nerd community is large enough to deserve some attention from broadcasters.

We seem to get glossy scifi nowadays, but a lack of factual shows.

The BBC used to have an excellent worldwide reputation for documentaries. I wonder what the recent sales figures are like?

The latest offering I *didn't see* (half a minute was enough) was some bubbly, cheery chap (worse for dubbing) and seemed to be addressed to the intellectually challenged (or bright 3 year olds).

I agree with you Bagpuss that there are some gems that crop up occasionally. Bang Goes the Theory was excellent and widely relevant to all age groups. I watched it with my 9 year old daughter and she loved it. Kept asking questions .

Horizon is occasionally good (but nothing like it used to be) - last night being a case in point with Marcus de Sautoy exploring consciousness and the sense of self which was really interesting for me at least.

Some of the BBC4 docu-dramas about scientists have been good as well.

I'm at risk of contradicting myself here...

t.

There's Life at the moment. I haven't seen it yet, but I think it's supposed to be good. Mind you, it doesn't seem that long since the last great nature documentary.

Nature documentaries are the BBCs forté. The Bristol Natural History Unit is world class and never fails to deliver. If they expanded that unit to take on science and technology I'd be more than happy.

t.

It seems, at least to me (and I hardly bother watching TV much these days), that the BBC got it so right with their nature type coverage programs, that they just decided to 'stop' there... Pity they can't turn the same hands that work on the nature type programs to work on mor science factual programming... I think there is a common perception in the media in general that all audiences are too stupid to understand anythign that actualy takes a bit of previous knowledge in order to make it make sense...
Which is probalby true of a lot* of viewers, but certainly not for all viewers.. it'd be nice to hav ea bit more variety especially for the types of audience they were making programming for

There has been some good stuff on BBC 4 . The ones on light and atoms were excelent , as have been some of the docudramas .

Now wait a sec, who did the program on Wiles and Fermat's Last theorem. I think it was the BBC. (Sure as wasn't FOX. ) I know it's been a few years, but I thought the program really captured what it was like to work on a big math problem, without getting impossible for the lay-person to follow the section on elliptic curves.

Hi Happy

I agree that there are some programmes that stand out however my point is that these are gems - little islands of high quality science broadcasting in a sea of mediocrity.

t.

The general lack of quality of media and the way it contribute to the stupidity of the public is utterly devastating. It's like an odd perpetuum mobile.

People who refuse to use their brains feed on gossipy media, who in turn feeds on them... Virtually nothing that demands an attention span longer than two and a half minutes or any kind of abstract thinking is published/shown.

Just one example from the local press in my hometown this week.

The other day my former prof was given a rather prestigious award for his contributions in the research about a devastating disease. His contributions have clarified some of the causes to this disease and shown new ways of medical treatment. Small snotices in the local papers, where the headlines that day concerned the showing of the cleavage of a female journalist in a local TV news show the day before. Guess what the online comments/letters to the editor have been full of afterwards...

Nowadays I find it hard to find reliable media to keep me informed about what goes on the the world.