Many viral animal clips-of gorillas and gazelles, weird birds and bees-look like frivolous fun on the surface, but turn out to hold important lessons about the evolution of our “ cousins in fur and feathers” … and about our own evolution. And one area where this may be particularly effective is in the science of animal behavior. One way that I suspect has gone relatively unnoticed is using memes and viral YouTube clips as a gateway drug to science. They recognize how useful science is, of course, but they’re closed off to the pleasures of its discoveries.Īs a result, science educators like myself are always trying to find ways to turn people on to science. Many people could get hooked on science, but for one reason or another don’t take to it immediately and never acquire the taste. For some, the joys of science are readily accessible they get hooked on it as children, then get to enjoy a regular fix of science for the rest of their lives. Science can be a peculiar source of joy-the joy, largely unique to human beings, of understanding the universe in which we live.
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