So, it turns out that my father studies something interesting enough to warrant publication on Salon.com's newswire. He's a professor at the Atlantic Veterinary College and specializes in the world of sealice and farmed salmon. It's always interesting to see the topic picked up in the national (or in this case international) media and you realize that something your parent does is relevant to the wider world. I found that was a curious milestone on the road to maturity when you find out that your parents actually do things that don't have much to do with you, but which other people greatly value.
So... I think now that sealice are finally getting the honour of some serious media attention it's time to start the great propaganda campaign my brother and I devised a few years ago: "Sealice! Do you know where your children are?" We kept encouraging my father to start such a media blitz to increase the amount of funding for people like him in the field. Now is the time to build upon the fearmongering with a snappy campaign. You'll be seeing posters in your city soon...
Comments
John - March 30, 2005 10:15 am
Not sure if I want to be associated with the PR Volpe's group is generating. I look forward to seeing the article in the Proceedings of the Royal Society so I can make my own opinion. Volpe has gained the services of SeaWeb (http://www.seaweb.org/index.php), a huge environmentalist PR firm to broadcast his scientific results. But to have Volpe say that "There is no ambiguity in the data whatsoever", as quoted from the Globe and Mail report this morning, is ridiculous. Scientific results should always be confirmed with multiple studies (not just data from one farm and bay) and always leads to more questions. And what is the purpose of pushing his results into the press? Does he just wish to close down salmon farms or can we find ways of building a good sustainable salmon industry based on solid science without the confrontation that PR campaigns introduce. Fear is also a common way to get one's way across nowadays ... I fear (nice choice of word?) that is what this group wishes to accomplish in the public ... sensational press and fear. That's my soapbox trip for the day.
John - March 30, 2005 12:23 pm
It's me again. Actually, your comments are well-timed, Daniel. We are just applying for a grant to further our studies on sea lice. Perhaps all this propaganda may help us. May the fear of sea lice be with you!