Tonight, the Perpetual Notion Machine has a special pledge drive edition. Thanks to everybody that has pledged donations so far, and thanks to all the loyal listeners of PNM. Keep the pledges coming!
Communicating science is probably the basis of PNM as a radio broadcast entity. Our guest thinks that communicating science as a brand could get the message across in another way. He is Todd Newman, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Life Sciences Communication at UW-Madison, and the co-author of the book Brand. A brand could be seen as a way of promoting merchandise in order to increase sales. But even Harley-Davidson doesn’t market their motorcycles as roaring, macho, mean machines. Their brand is the way to travel the open road, to see the country and commune with nature. Todd even explains that the March for Science a few years ago, that even had demonstrations in Madison, promoted science in general as a way to improve society and the way of life, as opposed to those who are anti-science. Also, Todd mentions a survey that asked respondents what comes to mind when they hear the word “science.” Overwhelmingly, hope was the response. Todd writes about this in an article for The Conversation. Check it out by clicking here.
