Category Archives: Native Science

What you don’t know about the Boston Tea Party

Posted on May 17, 2013 by

Sometimes we approach history with doubt, especially when it comes to stories about Native Americans. In grade school I heard North America was largely unpopulated until settlers arrived: a story quite different than the ones my relatives told. Reading about … Continue reading →

Posted in Native Science, framing, Indian, science, authenticity, journalism, writing, Boston tea Party | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Mind Different from Brain?

Posted on May 14, 2013 by

Consider the mind, rather than the brain. I asked readers in the last blog to think about the mind rather than the brain because Samuel Morton’s skull measurements in the 1860s asserted that American Indians have smaller skulls, hence smaller … Continue reading →

Posted in framing, Indian, journalism, Native Science, neuroscience, science, science communication, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Brain Full of Buckshot

Posted on May 10, 2013 by

In the Wild West soldiers could earn a dollar for every American Indian skull they collected. Skulls were then shipped back east so scientists could study them. One of the collectors, Samuel G. Morton, used skulls to extrapolate on personality … Continue reading →

Posted in authenticity, framing, Indian, journalism, Native Science, science, science communication | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Nip and Tuck for Your Brain

Posted on May 9, 2013 by

You can get a prescription to enhance your libido and lengthen your eyelashes, so why not a pill to help your memory? That’s the discussion around our dinner table: should doctors prescribe drugs that could improve cognitive skills?

Posted in authenticity, framing, journalism, Native Science, neuroscience, science, science communication | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Remembering Maria Tallchief

Posted on April 14, 2013 by

When someone mentioned ballet my mother would chime in that a famous ballerina came from her American Indian community. Maria Tallchief. We learned this week that Tallchief passed on. She and her sister Marjorie came from a prominent Osage family, … Continue reading →

Posted in american indian, authenticity, community, Family, film, Indian, journalism, native american, Native Science, Osage, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Congress Takes Anti-Science Stance

Posted on March 29, 2013 by

This week Congress approved the budget bill that funds science research while axing dollars for social science. Specifically political science. The news is heart-breaking for those of us who work on the softer side of science. It’s dumbfounding that anyone … Continue reading →

Posted in journalism, Native Science, science, science communication, writing | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Nibbled to Death by Ducks

Posted on March 28, 2013 by

One of my colleagues said working in university administration is like being nibbled to death by ducks. And this week a world leader said if you’re popular in your job, you’re probably not doing a good job. Result: some poor … Continue reading →

Posted in health, journalism, medicine, Native Science, science, science communication | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Maggots for Medicine

Posted on March 22, 2013 by

Maggots—the offspring of flies—are making their way to the modern medicine chest, according to this month’s Scientific American. The wee young of flies—larvae—munch on dead skin, cleaning bacteria from wounds. Science writer Carrie Arnold notes the FDA approved medical use … Continue reading →

Posted in framing, Indian, medicine, Native Science, science communication | Tagged | Leave a comment

Going Viral

Posted on March 22, 2013 by

Interesting how our language has changed. Today going viral is a good thing. But imagine 30 years ago when a strange virus struck gay men in cities like San Francisco. Going viral meant something frightening.

Posted in framing, journalism, Native Science, neuroscience, news bias, science, science communication, social media, writing | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

I Can’t Understand Your Story

Posted on March 19, 2013 by

Telling your story has always been important. Imagine your elders camped by a fire telling stories. Indian Country holds stories dear.

Posted in advertising, american indian, framing, Native Science, science, science communication, social media, writing | Tagged , , | 2 Comments