Public Outreach and Bad Science Watch

Now, as always when people come out to promoting Science, people who encounter me know I take this task very seriously, since Science promotion is a vitally important task in the public circle, since our society relies so much on technology, and what we know in Science.  It always surprises me when I encounter anybody who can't grasp fundamental concepts about our universe, but even then it takes the proper voice and outreach to turn that around, and make that something to boost their interest.  I am also quite passionate about approaching pseudo-science, anti-scientific, or political ideologies which pose against Scientific benefits for our society with the voice of reason, and doing so in a reasonable, well educated, straight forward, and honest matter.  

Now, to what I specifically want to discuss, with this premise.  I recently found a non-profit group called Bad Science Watch.  When I went to their website, it sounded like something that would interest me, and seemed to share a similar message (I really do mean this) as I do, and do so in a more 'do-er' approach, but I am pretty certain I just have stumbled across another 'boys club' for science hobby activists (now when I use this term, I mean the opposite of a 'do-er'), and not serious scientists who are wanting to approach parliament about issues where Science may be poorly represented, or the government may endorse pseudo-scientific solutions.
  Now I could be completely wrong about this, but one thing as somebody who promotes science like it was in my blood, I can tell you it will not get any momentum with this type of model with the public unless they make it more open.  As somebody with a lot of experience running non-profit groups, or leading groups, and educating people for not even a dime, there are several reasons why I say this:

1. It is not an open door policy organization for volunteers:  It requires a complete qualification 'check' as if you were getting a high end job to even step in the door to work with this group.
2. Not one empirical or formal scientist in charge:  You got some MD's, and lots of software developers and that's a stretch.  When I say this, I don't mean any insult to MD's, just this is incredibly different in practice than research scientists, or educators.  I have the humblest respect for doctors since I am quite bad with blood and guts and they can help others, just maybe not the system standard doctors work under since it is not about science and the necessary benefit of the public (these days at least, since the government-physician-financial link between them is quite a mess).  
3. Doesn't seem to benefit the target population:  With a closed door policy for volunteers, it really misses the point of a non-profit group if you can't get the general public involved in your organization.  This is a bad model since if you want to promote positive science, and point out bad science, you need to reach a public, and it is very hard to do this without lots of people, and this really restricts your audience (but, I will get into this later).

Now, I thought with my experience I would put my hand out there to help this group as I love helping promote science, and have educated thousands of children, and people of all ages (just in the past year) about science, and how to think critically about problems, or about how the world works from airplanes, to empirical sciences, to computing, to logic, to even just basic mathematical skills.  So I sent them an optimistic message in the form:

Good Morning Bad Science Watch! I was directed to your site from a colleague of mine. Looks like a positive message, and when I heard what it was about, I felt I needed to shoot you fellows a positive note to keep on it. If you need any educational, or scientific support, feel free to contact me. I love getting involved in trying to increase the positive awareness of science, and standing up for the promotion of science to everyone, no matter how old. I would be more than glad to help. Keep it up, and if you need anything, just let me know. Have a beautiful day! 

Took about a week to get even a response back (most non-profit groups are very prompt, especially if they are just starting out), but here it is.  For the sake of confidentiality, I have blotted out names:

Dear Daniel,
Thank you for your interest in Bad Science Watch and your kind words of encouragement. We are now recruiting volunteers for our first two projects, and would welcome your application!
To process a volunteer application, we require:
1. A current resume or CV describing your educational and/or professional background2. A brief cover letter which should include a description of your interest in the specific project you are applying for and any relevant volunteer experience you may have3. A letter providing full disclosure of any associations, clubs, companies, or organized social groups you are involved in through work, volunteering, or membership
Applicants must also attend an interview which will be conducted over Skype. As Bad Science Watch maintains a virtual office and has a volunteer base distributed across Canada, the vast majority of our communications will be through Skype and email. As such all volunteers must have a Skype account and a headset and microphone. To indicate your availability for a Skype interview, please visit this link, enter your full name, and select the times and dates from the list of options that you will be available for an interview of up to 60 minutes. Please select as many times as possible as we have a large number of volunteers to interview in the coming weeks.
Thanks and regards,
Blank McBlankerson

I felt somewhat insulted, or shrugged my head when I got this message.  A fine example of poor experience.  I know for instance one of my non-profit employers definitely would not do this, and they have a much simpler process (might I include that place wouldn't even be possible without our hard working volunteers).  I would not treat any potential volunteer, nor has any group I have donated, or gotten involved with treat volunteers like if it is a dog race.  This is the kind of process you use to hire people for a high end job, not to recruit volunteers.  Here are some problems with this process:

• Ask for a CV/Resume after you invite them to join, and they have accepted:  You basically just slam the door on volunteers if they put out an open hand to help you if you basically tell them you need to pass a test to join them.  This usually can turn away or discourage people who are coming in as laymens to help with your group.  It is hard enough getting people to fill out a single line, than to expect them to submit to you something you should be doing for them.  Give them reasons to help you out.  Make them interested in your subject.  For instance if you like cookies, you don't expect the newest volunteers to make you cookies, just for you to eat, and not even the public.  My recommendation is just to have them fill out one form, and if you have questions, ask them the questions.
• Throw possibilities out there:  Why would anybody get involved if you diminish their talents.  If somebody sends you a message which sounds like they really have things to offer, make it personal with them.  You cannot be very systematic with people that want to help, you got to show them, that by doing and taking the time to check you out, that you did the same for them.  If you have projects, talk about ones you think they would be interested in.  
• Giving complete personal information:  What stops you from being a fraudulent organization which is stealing personal information?  Now I am not suggesting it is the case, but it can be a possibility since there are not too many reputable sources out there talking about the group at the given time.  Organizations don't ask you for your entire history from beginning to end about things, that's a little creepy.  Even employers for most jobs wouldn't ask for all this, you'd provide maybe a selection that best suits the situation even then.  If volunteers want to tell you things, they will give you that information. For instance, as you noticed in my message, I mentioned a lot about my educating profession, and not one mention about this in their reply.  They are taking the time to support your cause, at least take the time to listen.
• Interviews, and selection processes:  It is always nice to talk to people who want to get involved with your organization, but this group has not been around for as long as large non-profit groups which have planned events all the time which have very specific numbers and resources, but they wouldn't do this for their volunteers as a whole.  When you get people interested, you really show you don't care that much if you say that their not qualified enough to just walk in the door even with their details given to you.  This is not just on my case as being a scientist, but for anybody.  You try to take in as many people, and when you need specific skills, you ask for it, and it is likely those interested will put up their hand, and help.  You're running a non-profit group with volunteers after all.  Even then, you can train volunteers to do tasks if necessary.

There is more I could point out, but those are some of the major problems I had.  It seems like a closed-knit group rather than one that is comprised of serious advocates, which want to promote science, and expose pseudo-science.  With this being said, unless they show they care about people and their cause (since if you want to stop public matters, you got to approach people, not just small knits of society, heck even using the Internet to spread positive science media is more effective), I cannot endorse this group as a scientist, and public educator of science.   I say this in the most modest sense of the word.  Promoting science is not a little club, it is a very important matter.

In conclusion, I sent them this message (with the link to this entry), to assist them in the future:

Good Evening Blank,

  I felt quite discouraged/insulted by your response (considering it ignored completely my message, and what I had to offer). So I thought I would provide some recommendations for your group here:  http://pagewizard.blogspot.ca/2012/08/bad-science-watch-bad-examples-of.html since this group is just starting out.

I felt like this group has a positive message, but it is not being carried out very well, or in an experienced matter when it comes to outreach. 

Hope this is taken as a grain of salt for the organization, and if you wish to have any assistance in the future from myself.

Have a beautiful day!

Daniel Page

Theoretical Computer Scientist, Science Educator, Museum Interpreter

Have a beautiful evening!

D R Page