The lone scientist toiling away in his lab remains the icon of scientific genius. But a new study has found that even the best scientists need help to make major discoveries. This afternoon at three on To the Best of Our Knowledge, the path to scientific breakthroughs. And an answer to the question -- have we reached "the end of science."
Rogers Hollingsworth tells Steve Paulson that lone inspiration and the lure of prize money don't inspire scientific creativity as well as does lively interaction with scientific peers. Rogers Hollingsworth is a sociologist and historian at the University of Wisconsin at Madison. Also, John Horgan tells Judith Strasser that all the important discoveries have been made. His book is The End of Science: Facing the Limits of Knowledge in the Twilight of the Scientific Age.SEGMENT 2:
Patricia Wright, social worker turned wildlife biologist and anthropologist, tells Steve Paulson about her search for a type of lemur thought extinct on the island of Madagascar. In the end she found two lemur species and was awarded a MacArthur "genius" award.SEGMENT 3:
Gerald Geison is a historian at Princeton and the author of The Private Science of Louis Pasteur. He tells Jim Fleming that Pasteur - celebrated for creating the first laboratory vaccine - lied about his most famous experiments.Cassette copies are available at 1-800-747-7444. Ask for program number 96-10-13-B.
flemingj@vilas.uwex.edu
Page Design and Management by Jim Fleming at Wisconsin Public Radio.
© Copyright 1998 Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System.