‘Science and the Media’ panel includes NBC’s Bazelle and CBS’ Burkholder

David Ruth
713-348-6327
david@rice.edu

HOUSTON — (March 27, 2012) — NBC News chief science and health correspondent Robert Bazell and “CBS Evening News” medical and health producer Amy Burkholder will be the featured panelists at a public forum on “Science and the Media” at 8:15 a.m. April 5 at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy.

Many Americans use the media as their sole source for information on new health and scientific discoveries, said Baker Institute fellow Kirstin Matthews, who is organizing the program. Because communication between scientists and journalists is crucial for the public to understand medical research, the panel will discuss the best ways to enhance interaction between the media and scientists in the medical field and to increase public understanding of what can be very complex research, policy and discoveries. The panel will also talk about what scientists and journalists need to learn about each other to improve medical journalism. Dr. Ronald DePinho, president of MD Anderson Cancer Center, will moderate the discussion.

Who: NBC News chief science and health correspondent Robert Bazell and CBS Evening News medical and health producer Amy Burkholder.

What: A discussion on the relationship between scientists and the media from the science and health reporters’ perspective.

When: Thursday, April 5, 8:15 a.m.

Where: Rice University, Baker Hall, Doré Commons, 6100 Main St.

This is the fourth event in the Medicine, Research and Society Policy Issues Series, a joint project between the Baker Institute’s Science and Technology Policy Program and the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

The event is free and open to the public. Registration is available here, where the event will also be webcast.

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Members of the news media who want to attend should RSVP to David Ruth at david@rice.edu or 713-348-6327.

Founded in 1993, the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy at Rice University in Houston ranks among the top 20 university-affiliated think tanks globally and top 30 think tanks in the United States. As a premier nonpartisan think tank, the institute sponsors more than 20 programs that conduct research on domestic and foreign policy issues with the goal of bridging the gap between the theory and practice of public policy. The institute’s strong track record of achievement reflects the work of its endowed fellows and Rice University scholars. Learn more about the institute at www.bakerinstitute.org or on the institute’s blog, http://blogs.chron.com/bakerblog.