Rock Stars of Science: Will it hype scientific celebrity and increase research funding?

June 9, 9:38 PMBaltimore Science News ExaminerMary Spiro

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This is not the Joe Perry Project's new line-up. (Credit: GQ)

Here’s an unlikely trio. Pictured from left to right are Rudy Tanzi, Joe Perry, and Francis Collins. Joe Perry is the lead guitarist of Aerosmith. Is this the line-up of a one of Perry's new musical solo projects? Hardly.

Rudy Tanzi, Ph.D., is a professor of neurology and genetics at Harvard/ Massachusetts General Hospital. He's discovered genes linked to Alzheimer’s disease.

Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D., will likely be the next director of the National Institutes of Health. He is the former director of National Human Genome Research Institute, leader of the Human Genome Project, and  recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Can scientists be turned into celebrities like rock stars? Apparently GQ  Magazine thinks so with the launch of a new campaign called “Rock Stars of Science.” The effort is backed by the Geoffrey Beene Gives Back Alzheimer’s Initiative. The campaign was launched with a multipage photo portfolio that includes scientists such as Anthony S. Fauci, M.D.,director of the National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases, seen cavorting alongside singer/songwriter Sheryl Crow, and Steven T. DeKosky, M.D. of the University of Virginia School of Medicine, shown grooving with musician Will.i.am  of the Black-Eyed Peas.

The campaign aims to highlight the importance of biomedical research and the need for increased science funding. The premise is that if you link celebrity rock musicians with equally important, but relatively unknown science superstars, Americans will begin to view the scientists as celebrities as well and, in turn, be more willing to support funding for scientific research.

Americans (who don’t read the Baltimore Science News Examiner, that is) are largely illiterate about science. There have been several studies and surveys that prove Americans don’t know basic science concepts, such how long it takes for the earth to travel around the sun (only 53% of adults get it right). How can we expect them to know who the science or medical “rock stars” are?

[I will make one local exception. Here in Baltimore, a lot of school children and adults seem to know who Dr. Ben Carson is. If you don’t know him, click here, and then go kick yourself in the pants.]

A recent survey, “The State of Science in America,” from the Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry  and conducted by research firm Harris Interactive, looked at science education in the U.S.  Eight of 10 respondents said they didn’t think science education was given enough emphasis in schools, and only 26 percent indicated they felt they had a good understanding of basic scientific concepts.

If you need more proof that Americans are science dumb, check out a new book, "Unscientific America: How Scientific Illiteracy Threatens our Future" by Chris Mooney and Sheril Kirshenbaum. The book won’t be released until July 13, 2009, but you can read some previews on Amazon.com. Of course, the book also has its own Facebook page. If you have a Facebook account, just do a search for Unscientific American.

So, will the Rock Stars of Science campaign work? I signed up on the R.S.O.S website for future updates. We shall see.

For more information: Rock Stars of Science Website

To take a very non-scientific test of your scientific literacy, click here.