About
About the site
I chose the name Just A Theory because it demonstrates a common misunderstanding of science by the general public. When people attempt to dismiss areas such as evolution or climate change they often announce “that’s just a theory!” – the implication being theories are dreamed up by mad scientists in laboratories somewhere, and are based on opinion, not fact.
This perception can be very damaging to science, and it is often the media that is at fault. Scientific reports are dumbed down to the point where facts, data, and the scientific method are completely obscured – its no wonder readers can be left with the impression scientists pluck their ideas out of thin air.
The aim of Just A Theory is to try and avoid these pitfalls myself, as well as highlighting the worst offenders in the mainstream media. Most importantly of all, I wish to treat readers as intelligent people who may not know much about science, but hopefully wish to know more.
Just A Theory was launched in the summer of 2008. In the spring of 2009, additional writers drawn from the Imperial College Science Communication course joined the site.
About the authors
Jacob Aron is a freelance science and technology writer and creator of Just A Theory. He studied Mathematics at the University of Bristol, before undertaking an MSc in Science Communication at Imperial College London. He enjoys writing, film and television, video games, and talking in the third person.
Seth Bell graduated from Cambridge University in 2007, having studied natural sciences and specialised in philosophy of science. He currently studies Science Communication at Imperial College London alongside his fellow bloggers. He chats about London-based scientific research and events on his weekly radio show, Capital Science.
Jessica Bland finished an MPhysPhil in Physics & Philosophy at Oxford in June 2008. She currently studying on Imperial’s Science Communication MSc, developing interests in science policy and politics, new media and writing about the news rather than about herself.
Thom Hoffman spent three years studying psychology in Southampton and then spent one year studying the media. He found that they are both full of wonder and full of nonsense and dedicates some of his time to separating the two. His weekly satirical podcast Papercuts frequently features in the top 50 comedy podcasts on podomatic, and he occasionally blogs under the guise of the Undercover Psychologist.
Emma Stokes graduated from Newcastle University in 2007 with a degree in Pharmacology. Formerly a Science Explainer at Newcastle’s Centre for Life, she is currently studying for an MSc in Science Communication at Imperial College. She also works part-time as a Science Communications and New Media Assistant at Understanding Animal Research.
Colin Stuart spent three years in rainy Manchester taming the strange beast that is astrophysics and now lives in London where he is indulging in a little science communication. You can often find him at The Royal Observatory, Greenwich presenting planetarium shows, fronting the video section of The Jodcast or regressing to childhood at Science Made Fun.
Sam Wong graduated from Cambridge University in 2008 with a degree in Natural Sciences. He is now studying for an MSc in Science Communication at Imperial College. He co-presents with Thom a weekly topical podcast called Papercuts.
