This past Friday and Saturday, WFPL and Hanover College’s Rivers Institute welcomed dozens of reporters and scientists together for a conference called “Covering the Ohio River Valley: A convergence of media and scientists.”  The idea was to stoke the dialogue between regional reporters and researchers, get them thinking about how we might work together better.  Researchers presented on their work, giving a sweeping look at some of the watershed’s main environmental issues.  And then reporters worked taught scientists a bit about working with the media.

It struck me that we – reporters and scientists – have similar interests at heart.  We both desire an informed public.  We both aim to get at the truth.  We both deal in facts.  But reporters have an obligation to inform the public; scientists don’t.  Do you think a scientist has a duty to tell the public about potentially important research?