Face masks for the public during Covid-19: an appeal for caution in policy

As the Covid-19 crisis deepens, some researchers have argued for the widespread routine use of face masks in community settings, despite acknowledged gaps in the evidence base for the effectiveness of such a measure. We argue that such calls are premature, and risk neglecting important potential harms and negative consequences, known and unknown. We identify potential unintended consequences at multiple levels, from individual-behavioural to macrosocial, and suggest that it is far from clear that the benefits of widespread uptake of face masks, whether encouraged or enforced by public authorities, outweigh the downsides. Finally, we make the case for caution in communicating unequivocal messages about the scientific evidence for face mask use to policy, practitioner and public audiences, given continued scientific disagreement on the questio

Erving Needs a Pee. . .

This interview with Robert Dingwall, Professor and Director of the Institute for Science and Society at the University of Nottingham, was recorded on August 3, 2008, during the ADSA meeting in Boston. A group of sociologists assembled in the hallway was reminiscing about Goffman when Robert Dingwall volunteered this story and agreed to have it recorded. After Dmitri Shalin transcribed the interview, Dr. Dingwall corrected the transcript and gave his approval for posting the present version in the Erving Goffman Archives. Supplementary information appears in square brackets. Undecipherable words and unclear passages are identified in the text as “[?]”. The interviewer’s questions are shortened in several places

Generic Ethics Principles in Social Science Research

The written output of a series of three symposia held in the spring of 2013 on the topic of Generic Ethics Principles in Social Science Research. The format for each symposium was the same: a main speaker introduced a paper that had been circulated in advance and this was followed by two formal discussants and then participation from the floor. Discussion in groups took place in the afternoon and there was then a brief plenary session. The stimulus paper from each event is reproduced in this publication along with papers from discussants and a summary of each discussion

Television wildlife programming as a source of popular scientific information: a case study of evolution

The wildlife television documentary is an important but problematic genre, located between education and entertainment. Noting that the genre has characteristics that may increase its impact on the audience, this paper reviews its potential significance for science communication through a case study of the presentation of issues relating to evolution. First, the continuing popular and political support for creationism is examined, and then the new movement in support of Intelligent Design Creationism outlined. Based on an extensive sample of internationally produced programs, the research findings discussed in the paper focus on two dominant sub-genres: “blue chip” and “presenter-led.” While the former has higher production values and asserts greater authority, the pressures for a strong narrative discourage explorations of the contingency and amorality of evolution. The outcome is, typically, a text that does not challenge creationist accounts and may even implicitly endorse them. Paradoxically, we argue, although the presenter-led format is regarded as lower status within the media industry, it may offer more opportunities for conveying the complexity that is associated with evolutionary accounts. The authors conclude that the market context of television wildlife programming means that educational and entertainment aims and claims are indeed in tension, but with a counter-intuitive outcome

Chiral matter-wave solitons in a density-dependent gauge theory

In this thesis, we study the properties of one-dimensional chiral matter-wave solitons described by a density-dependent gauge theory. We begin, by first detailing the origin of the physical model, in which a synthetic density-dependent gauge potential is optically engineered in an ultracold bosonic gas. The resulting equation of motion for the condensate, which takes the form of a ‘chiral nonlinear Schr¨odinger equation’, will then be the main focus of this work, as the prose of the thesis changes from the field of condensed matter physics to that of nonlinear dynamics. In particular, we will demonstrate how the introduction of the density-dependent gauge potential leads to the breakdown of integrability, Galilean invariance, and chiral symmetry in the model and show how these properties, in part, lead to the emergence of both dark and bright chiral soliton solutions. From this, we will derive the principle conservation laws of the model using variational techniques and illustrate the semiclassical behaviour of the solitons in the context of the density-dependent gauge theory. The majority and remainder of this thesis, will then be devoted to two of the traditional problems in nonlinear physics for the bright chiral soliton: the stability in response to a linear perturbation and the collision dynamics between pairs of solitons. Here, we will find that the gauge theory features near-integrable dynamics in the case of a single-soliton, but is dominated by non-integrable dynamics in the two-soliton case. This result demonstrates the role and importance of nonintegrability in the description of nonlinear models, while potentially offering new possibilities for the coherent control of solitons in the ultracold setting

The future as a design problem

An often unacknowledged yet foundational problem for design is how ‘futures‘ are recruited for design practice. This problem saturates considerations of what could or should be designed. We distinguish two intertwined approaches to this: ‘pragmatic projection’, which tries to tie the future to the past, and ‘grand vision’, which ties the present to the future. We examine ubiquitous computing as a case study of how pragmatic projection and grand vision are practically expressed to direct and structure design decisions. We assess their implications and conclude by arguing that the social legitimacy of design futures should be increasingly integral to their construction

Health visiting - the end of a UK wide service?

In 1997 Health Visiting was deemed by New Labour to be an important player in reducing health inequalities. It was acknowledged that if Health Visiting was to fulfill this vision it would have to work out with its traditional child health role and also engage with groups, communities and populations to tackle the determinants of ill health. Twelve years on, external factors such as, NHS cut backs, recent changes to how Health Visitors are regulated throughout the UK and devolved Health Visiting policy making structures have led to the rapid demise in status and legitimacy of Health Visiting and its wider public health role. This article argues that the unintended consequences of devolved Health Visiting policy has resulted in 3 recent community nursing and health-visiting reviews in Scotland and England which have made divergent policy recommendations about the role of the Health Visitor in tackling health inequalities. The recommendations outlined in the Scottish review in particular threatened to jeopardise the very future provision of a UK wide Health Visiting service. If Health Visiting is to survive as a UK wide entity, a radical independent rethink as to its future direction and its public health role is urgently required

Healthcare workers' willingness to work during an influenza pandemic: a systematic review and meta-analysis

To estimate the proportion of healthcare workers (HCWs) willing to work during an influenza pandemic and identify associated risk factors, we undertook a systematic review and meta-analysis compliant with PRISMA guidance. Databases and grey literature were searched to April 2013, and records were screened against protocol eligibility criteria. Data extraction and risk of bias assessments were undertaken using a piloted form. Random-effects meta-analyses estimated (i) pooled proportion of HCWs willing to work and (ii) pooled odds ratios of risk factors associated with willingness to work. Heterogeneity was quantified using the I(2) statistic, and publication bias was assessed using funnel plots and Egger's test. Data were synthesized narratively where meta-analyses were not possible. Forty-three studies met our inclusion criteria. Meta-analysis of the proportion of HCWs willing to work was abandoned due to excessive heterogeneity (I(2) = 99.2%). Narrative synthesis showed study estimates ranged from 23.1% to 95.8% willingness to work, depending on context. Meta-analyses of specific factors showed that male HCWs, physicians and nurses, full-time employment, perceived personal safety, awareness of pandemic risk and clinical knowledge of influenza pandemics, role-specific knowledge, pandemic response training, and confidence in personal skills were statistically significantly associated with increased willingness. Childcare obligations were significantly associated with decreased willingness. HCWs' willingness to work during an influenza pandemic was moderately high, albeit highly variable. Numerous risk factors showed a statistically significant association with willingness to work despite significant heterogeneity between studies. None of the included studies were based on appropriate theoretical constructs of population behaviour

Bringing Space to the Classroom Through STEM Education Providing Extreme Low Earth Orbit Missions Using ThinSats

The future of Space Science depends on our ability to attract and engage students into Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields. Authentic, hands-on experience with space applications enhances engagement and learning in the STEM disciplines and can help to attract disinterested students to STEM careers. The Virginia Commercial Space Flight Authority (Virginia Space), Twiggs Space Lab, LLC (TSL), Orbital ATK, NearSpace Launch, Inc. (NSL), and NASA Wallops Flight Facility, have collaboratively developed the ThinSat Program, providing student teams the opportunity to design, develop, test, and monitor their own experimental payload which will be integrated into a pico-satellite and launched from the second stage of Orbital ATK’s Antares Rocket. The goal of the program is to provide students the opportunity to lead and participate in the development of a spacecraft payload through its life cycle over the course of an academic year. The student experience will be enhanced with classroom visits and videos created by the team to educate the students on satellite manufacturing, environmental testing, satellite integration, spaceport, launch vehicle, range and spacecraft operations. The ThinSat Program will provide a unique and important STEM opportunity for students to develop critical skills in systems engineering and space science that will complement existing programs