Google Maps for Science Communication

Here's a great demonstration of the potential of Google Maps for communicating science that I've just spotted on Mooch.info - in this case it's been adapted by the people at Global Warming Art to show the effect of climate change and rising sea levels on your house.

They've set themselves an ambitious goal:

"that the public and educators should have easy access to the same data and results that have framed the scientific discussion of global warming and climate change."

But of course as anyone who's read the thought provoking book "The Black Swan" by Nassim Nicholas Taleb will appreciate, any attempt at long term prediction like this is bound to be speculative and omit the potential of unexpected events.

To their credit the creators of these sea level maps say this right up front saying that people should "view these maps as rough estimations of how sea level rise may affect coastal areas and not rely on them too heavily". Still though, maybe we're not far off the point where people check maps like these before they buy property...

Science hits the news stands

It was great to see an Irish science magazine (albeit a supplement) in a prominent position in a suburban newsagents the other day... and it's available on-line too:

"Life Sciences Review is a new publication produced by Business & Finance Media Group that is dedicated to reporting the news and industry trends relevant to this lucrative industry sector."

New NASA videos for schools

NASA has just released a whole set of new videos aimed at schools - my favourite is this historical one but I don't think they meant it come across as spooky as it does!

Getting ready for Irish Astronomy events in 2009

Thanks to Miruna Popescu for bringing this Irish website called astronomy2009.ie to my attention, it's acting as a focus point for all the activities happening in Ireland in 2009 as part of the International Year of Astronomy 2009.

Judging from the number of organisations involved there'll be lots going on!