New Haven Independent

Speaking as a Poynter Fellow, Begley (pictured), a Yale alumna, author and former Wall Street Journal reporter, expressed little optimism in her lecture, “Science Journalism in an Irrational World.”

Unfortunately, rational thought does not preclude strange beliefs, Begley said.

“Rational people must decide to use rational thinking,” she said to an audience of about 60 Yale students, staff, and others.

For example, in the 19th century Sir Roger Tichborne was reported lost at sea. A year later a completely different man claimed to be the lost heir: his physique, language, tattoos, birthmarks, name, and weight were all dissimilar to Tichborne’s. Yet Tichborne’s mother immediately accepted the fake into the family. After her death the family forced the charlatan out.

Besides being a charming and weird story, the events show how an otherwise rational woman was ready to surrender all reason to regain her son.

That same kind of insouciance is alive and thriving in the U.S., Begley said. She said that people who depend on science journalists to keep the record straight are apt to be disappointed.

“Explaining science is so daunting that it’s almost impossible,” she said. Then scientists ask her why science reporting is not more accurate.

Science journalists can explain many issues, “But if you’re counting on the press to explain science you’re bound to be disappointed,” Begley said, apologizing for her pessimistic view.

People in the U.S. are scientifically ignorant and strikingly so, she said.

In 1985 a poll showed that fewer than half of those questioned believed that humans had evolved from earlier species. Today, about 30 percent of Americans believe the theory of evolution is “definitely false,” she said.

“Evolution has become bitterly politicized in the United States, but this is not the case elsewhere,” Begley said.

Indeed ,in a chart showing belief in evolution by country, the U.S. is second from the bottom. Only Turkey has a higher percentage of skeptics.

Along those same lines of science illiteracy, 78 percent in a U.S. survey believed Earth’s interior is very hot. And 72 percent agreed that all radioactivity is artificial.

“Science illiteracy is fairly alarming and it is a problem in science reporting,” Begley said.

Keys to rational thought include curiosity; open-mindedness; less dogmatic and authoritarian views, and a higher likelihood to rely on empirical observation, she said.
However, thinking rationally is a decision that the thinker must make, Begley said.

Arthur Wallace Russell, a 19th century British explorer and naturalist, developed a theory of natural selection before Charles Darwin published his. But Russell also believed in ghosts, clairvoyance, phrenology, mesmerism and other irrational, alleged phenomena.

What are we to make of this curious combination?

Begley presented a sample of angry emails that she received after an article she wrote about evolution.

“Next time you’re in the hospital are you going to call Darwin or God?” one correspondent wrote. Another asked, “If Man evolved from monkeys and apes, why are there still moneys and apes?”

The answer to the second question is that monkeys, apes and humans all share a common ancestor. Apes did not metamorphose into humans. Nor does teh theory of evolution claim that they did.

Deep-seated religious belief, and fear of religion being torn away, will always trump the efforts of science journalists,” Begley said.

“No amount of of excellence in journalism will correct this. In this era there is a deep distrust of experts,” she said. Humans have survived on magical thinking and superstition for millenia, she said.

Americans also tend to rely on “common sense.” That and “ersonal incredulity” are two avenues of argument that science journalism has difficulty grasping, Begley said.
“I’m sorry I don’t have a personal prescription.”

After the lecture Begley lingered to advise a handful of students on how to break into science writing.

She pointed out, correctly, that publications would be glad to eliminate the jobs of older, better paid staffers, and replace them with young graduates who are willing to work for peanuts.

However, Begley said journalism will likely survive on the Internet, and may even eventually reemerge on paper.