Comments on: The Race: On Tiny Skinks and Contemplating GG IV http://www.calacademy.org/medialibrary/blogs/gulfofguinea/?p=124 The island biodiversity race Mon, 13 May 2013 17:03:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 By: Bob http://www.calacademy.org/medialibrary/blogs/gulfofguinea/?p=124&cpage=1#comment-4106 Bob Thu, 31 Dec 2009 21:21:57 +0000 http://www.calacademy.org/medialibrary/blogs/gulfofguinea/?p=124#comment-4106 Thanks for your comment, D. I, at least, am honored. I was unaware of resistance in the Division to the “heroes” business; and I am unclear as to who has been speaking for us as a whole…. I am pretty sure most of us do not think of ourselves as “heroes” in the current sense (life-savers in the NYPD and NYFD, Superman, or even Indiana Jones, etc.) .. But in your sense (role-models?), I do not see a valid objection… in fact, it would seem to be part of our mission, even if unintended.
Bob

]]> By: Donovan Rittenbach http://www.calacademy.org/medialibrary/blogs/gulfofguinea/?p=124&cpage=1#comment-4105 Donovan Rittenbach Thu, 31 Dec 2009 20:08:16 +0000 http://www.calacademy.org/medialibrary/blogs/gulfofguinea/?p=124#comment-4105 Bob, really great point. It has been one of the things that we struggle most with. As you know, I care a lot about the scientists. They are the source of the Academy’s credibility and the source of its most profound stories. They are why we can “explore and explain” the natural world. It’s up to everybody else to do the protect part of our mission statement, although some scientists are doing that as well.

The funny thing is that the Research Division actually has stood in the way of helping making the Researcher’s more prominent. As you know I tried to bring the stories of Science Heroes to the foreground. I intended to showcase all the curators. After all, you guys are my heroes (I have a lot of heroes). The funny thing is I was shut down by the Research Division because they didn’t like the use of the word “heroes”.

Heroes are looked upon as a bad thing by Research. There are all sorts of “hero worship” connotations. But that’s not the intention. Heroes are people we respect and look up to. Heroes are people we admire, and who inspire us.

Heroes is a super powerful word. I see it when I am waiting for muni. There is a television show that is very popular called “Heroes”. CNN has a whole Heroes section. We need role models, and people admire men and women who put themselves in danger to help make the world a better place.

I want your help getting rid of the negative connotation of heroes that apparently exists within the Research Division so that I can help bring them to their rightful place on the Academy’s stage, in the Spotlight. If the Academy is a stage, you guys are our stars! You are our authorities!

Anyhow amigo, see you next decade. Wishing you the best.

Caveat: I have made this public statement, with the hopes that it will break some ice. Yes its an internal matter, but by making it more public, I just felt it had more power, especially since your blog so deftly pointed out how few of our visitors know the Academy is a research institution.

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