Category Archives: science

Break the Rules

Posted on October 16, 2012 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

Students and scientists gathered in Seattle last week to talk about how to succeed in their careers—not only as scientists—but as American Indians and Hispanic individuals. So I was honored to speak about science communication that impacts Indian tribes and … Continue reading →

Posted in authenticity, framing, Native Science, science, science communication, social media, Uncategorized, writing | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Penny for your Thoughts

Posted on October 11, 2012 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

Context is everything. Take beauty for example. An attractive woman may look gorgeous in a sea of homely men. But lumped together with a hundred other beautiful women, it is much more difficult to single her out as the most … Continue reading →

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Use Columbus Day to Confront Stereotypes

Posted on October 4, 2012 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

Monday ushers in Columbus Day, an event that irritates indigenous folks in North America. Particularly vexing is the well-worn trope that Columbus “discovered” the continent. Christopher Columbus offers a convenient target for our wrath but I can think of many … Continue reading →

Posted in authenticity, ethics, Indian, Native Science, science, science communication, writing | Tagged , , , | 55 Comments

When Research Creates Origami

Posted on October 2, 2012 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

The New England Journal of Medicine went out on a limb with an editorial that advised readers to let the data speak for themselves. And ignore the funding source. Jeffrey M. Drazen’s September 20 editorial says that a study’s “validity … Continue reading →

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You are Your Brain

Posted on September 27, 2012 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

Our brains serve us well, remembering that tigers are fierce and blue-black berries are poisonous. But our brains fool us. We lock down on stereotypes: all tigers are fierce. All blue-black berries are poisonous. And we do that with people, … Continue reading →

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Science of Lies

Posted on September 14, 2012 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

There are lies others tell us and there are lies we tell ourselves. What is the science of lies? Recently journalists have invoked neuroscience to explain everything from women’s orgasms to the Republican brain. An article I read this week … Continue reading →

Posted in authenticity, censorship, ethics, framing, health, journalism, news bias, science, science communication, writing | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Vagina, Male Style?

Posted on September 13, 2012 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

The Economist carried a review of Naomi Wolf’s new book, Vagina: A New Biography, and I remarked to my honey that the British news magazine has a male voice. How can you tell, he asked? You can just tell, I … Continue reading →

Posted in authenticity, censorship, framing, journalism, news bias, science, science communication, writing | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Organic vs. Conventional Food: No Difference

Posted on September 7, 2012 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

Media folks are buzzing this week over a Stanford study about the nutritional differences between organic and conventional foods. The study found almost no differences.

Posted in NAGPRA, risk, science, science communication, writing | Tagged , | 5 Comments

Jumping Frenchmen and Science

Posted on September 6, 2012 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

I live with a fellow scientist and we share a gallows sense of humor. Gallows as in scaffold for the hangman. This comes in handy as we prepare for autumn’s arrival and a spooky Halloween. The prankster in me allows … Continue reading →

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When Indians are invisible in science

Posted on August 25, 2012 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

When are American Indians invisible? As a critic of mass media and Indian representations, I am mindful of the gross caricatures that persist. Pocahontas. Chief Wahoo. The Land O’Lakes butter maiden. These are memorable images of Indians.

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