The Dinosaur Feather
Page 46
“Since the latter half of the twentieth century it has become customary to publicize scientific controversies, in order to make science accessible to the wider public. However, it’s my opinion we are currently experiencing a shift in communication, where the interest in the content of a controversy has given way to a rise in interest in the feud itself. Everyone knows that Bjørn Lomborg argued with leading experts about the state of the earth, but how many lay people can explain the scientific arguments at the heart of that controversy, and how many understand its scientific implications, even though the media covered it extensively?”
Anna looked at Dr. Tybjerg and saw the pencil in his hand, which now rested in his lap.
“And why has controversy suddenly become so attractive?” she asked and turned up the light. It went very quiet, and Anna could now see Dr. Tybjerg’s face clearly. He was smiling.
“It sells tickets,” Anna said. “It sells newspapers, it sells journals, and the pressure for profit also affects highly respected journals such as Science and Scientific Today, which increasingly regard the degree of controversy as their basis for selecting which papers to print, while ignoring the quality of those papers. Dinosaurs are ‘sexy,’ and the question of what became of them is glamorous. In the controversy surrounding the origin of birds, it seems to have created a co-dependent relationship between the opposition and the media, where each party needs the conflict because it sells, even though it means that an expert, such as Professor Freeman, is forced to defend a scientific position that is ultimately indefensible.” Anna found Karen’s admiring gaze in the hall.
“Research grants are awarded by people who also read newspapers and journals and watch television. Big headlines and extensive media coverage can easily give the impression the feud is important. Bitter arguments between highly qualified scientists sell and, in my view, the opposition has exploited that. Publicity leads to media coverage, and media coverage leads to grants. You can think what you like, but you can’t call it science.”
The hall was very quiet.
“Thank you,” Anna said and closed her laptop.
Everyone clapped.
Dr. Tybjerg rose and started examining her. A young professor from the University of Århus assisted him, and an external examiner, also from Århus, took careful notes. Anna wore Helland’s necklace. The questions rained down over her and, at some point, Dr. Tybjerg handed her a box of bones and asked her to account for the evolution of the bird hand compared to the evolution of other pentadactyle hands. Anna answered and looked Dr. Tybjerg straight in the eye. Karen had left the hall to pick up Lily. For God’s sake, it had to be over soon! Suddenly, the door opened and the World’s Most Irritating Detective entered. He looked frazzled and tried not to draw attention to himself. He failed. When he missed a step and stumbled, everyone turned to glare at him. Christ, he was irritating. Anna flushed hot all over and smiled at him.
Dr. Tybjerg said, “Congratulations.”
And, at last, Anna was a biologist.
The author would like to thank the following:
Anders Lund, Jens T. Høeg, Åse Jespersen, Jørn Andreassen, Christian Baron, Peter Makovicky, and Paul McNeice for reading the script and for their professional comments. Thank you also to Jørgen Lützen, Per Christiansen, Peter Holter, Henrik Glenner, Kristine Johanne Kurstein Sørensen, and Margrethe Noýe-Sneding for inspiration. Special thanks to Detective Sergeant Uffe Jensen of the East Jylland Police’s Criminal Investigation Department for patiently explaining his profession and his work to me (I take full responsibility for any errors and artistic license). Thank you to Janne Hejgaard, Paul Gazan, Trine Rosenkjær, and Sophie Sanwald for being there for Lola while I wrote—I love you! Thank you to Trine Pallesen, Katrine Kjær, Mette Holbæk, Tina Felton, Eva Myers, Ditte Rode, Eva Kruse, Hanne Palmquist, Malou von Simson, Lisbeth Sandberg, Julie Michelsen, Lotte Garbers, Stine Hesager Lema, and Christine Elverdal for your courage under fire. Thank you to my editor, Lene Wissing, for an exceptionally fine collaboration. Last, but not least, thank you to Ea-Viola Gazan. You are the love of my life, and this book is for you.
Copyright
New York • London
© 2008 by S.J. Gazan
Translation © 2011 by Charlotte Barslund
Originally published in Denmark by Gyldendals Bogklubber in 2008
First published in the United States by Quercus in 2013
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e-ISBN: 978-1-62365-067-4
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