Science on the Air : Popularizers and Personalities on Radio and Early Television

__Mr. Wizard’s World__. __Bill Nye the Science Guy__. NPR’s __Science Friday.__ These popular television and radio programs broadcast science into the homes of millions of viewers and listeners. But these modern series owe much of their success to the pioneering efforts of early-twentieth-century science shows like __Adventures in Science__ and “Our Friend the Atom.” __Science on the Air__ is the fascinating history of the evolution of popular science in the first decades of the broadcasting era. Marcel Chotkowski LaFollette transports readers to the early days of radio, when the new medium allowed innovative and optimistic scientists the opportunity to broadcast serious and dignified presentations over the airwaves. But the exponential growth of listenership in the 1920s, from thousands to millions, and the networks’ recognition that each listener represented a potential consumer, turned science on the radio into an opportunity to entertain, not just educate. __Science on the Air__ chronicles the efforts of science popularizers, from 1923 until the mid-1950s, as they negotiated topic, content, and tone in order to gain precious time on the air. Offering a new perspective on the collision between science’s idealistic and elitist view of public communication and the unbending economics of broadcasting, LaFollette rewrites the history of the public reception of science in the twentieth century and the role that scientists and their institutions have played in both encouraging and inhibiting popularization. By looking at the broadcasting of the past, __Science on the Air__ raises issues of concern to all those who seek to cultivate a scientifically literate society today. Mr. Wizard’s World. Bill Nye the Science Guy. NPR’s Science Friday. These popular television and radio programs broadcast science into the homes of millions of viewers and listeners. But these modern series owe much of their success to the pioneering efforts of early-twentieth-century science shows like Adventures in Science and “Our Friend the Atom.” Science on the Air is the fascinating history of the evolution of popular science in the first decades of the broadcasting era. Marcel Chotkowski LaFollette transports readers to the early days of radio, when the new medium allowed innovative and optimistic scientists the opportunity to broadcast serious and dignified presentations over the airwaves. But the exponential growth of listenership in the 1920s, from thousands to millions, and the networks’ recognition that each listener represented a potential consumer, turned science on the radio into an opportunity to entertain, not just educate. Science on the Air chronicles the efforts of science popularizers, from 1923 until the mid-1950s, as they negotiated topic, content, and tone in order to gain precious time on the air. Offering a new perspective on the collision between science’s idealistic and elitist view of public communication and the unbending economics of broadcasting, LaFollette rewrites the history of the public reception of science in the twentieth century and the role that scientists and their institutions have played in both encouraging and inhibiting popularization. By looking at the broadcasting of the past, Science on the Air raises issues of concern to all those who seek to cultivate a scientifically literate society today. (20090201) This Title Transports Readers To The Early Days Of Radio, When The New Medium Allowed Innovative And Optimistic Scientists The Opportunity To Broadcast Serious And Dignified Presentations Over The Airwaves. The Book Goes On To Chronicle The Work Of These Science Pioneers On Radio And Television Into The 1950s. Tuxedos And Microphones -- The Radio Nature League -- Syndicating Science -- Cooperative Ventures -- Shifting Ground -- A Twist Of The Dial -- Facts And Fictionalizations -- Adventuring With Scientists -- Broadcasting The Voice Of The Atom -- Illusions Of Actuality -- Epilogue: Entertaining Lessons. Marcel Chotkowski Lafollette. Includes Bibliographical Notes And Bibliography (p. 247-294) And Index. Contents......Page 8 List of Figures......Page 10 Prologue......Page 12 1 Tuxedos and Microphones......Page 18 2 The Radio Nature League......Page 38 3 Syndicating Science......Page 56 4 Cooperative Ventures......Page 76 5 Shifting Ground......Page 98 6 A Twist of the Dial......Page 124 7 Facts and Fictionalizations......Page 144 8 Adventuring with Scientists......Page 168 9 Broadcasting the Voice of the Atom......Page 190 10 Illusions of Actuality......Page 222 Epilogue: Entertaining Lessons......Page 250 Notes......Page 258 Bibliography......Page 292 Acknowledgments......Page 306 Index......Page 310 Presents history of the evolution of popular science in the first decades of the broadcasting era. This title transports readers to the early days of radio, when the new medium allowed innovative and optimistic scientists the opportunity to broadcast serious and dignified presentations over the airwaves.