Cannabis Ruderalis

thcscience_admin
Science Moms
Directed byNatalie Newell
Produced byNatalie Newell
StarringAlison Bernstein
Anastasia Bodnar
Layla Katiraee
Kavin Senapathy
Jenny Splitter
Release date
  • October 2017 (2017-10)
Running time
30 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Science Moms is a 2017 American documentary film produced and directed by Natalie Newell. Its goal is to provide a counterpoint to wide-spread anti-science misinformation affecting parenting, including anti-GMO and anti-vaccine propaganda.[1]

Production history

Science Moms was produced and directed by the host of The Science Enthusiast Podcast,[2] Natalie Newell. The kickstarter funded documentary[3] tackles "the challenge for mothers who want to do what’s best for their kids, but are beset by pseudoscience and paranoia about things like 'chemicals' and GMOs."[4] It covers topics such as vaccines, autism, celebrity-endorsed health fads, cancer, allergies, organic food and GMO’s.[5]

Inception

As was described in a May 19, 2017, article in Paste magazine, a group of bloggers wrote an open letter to several celebrity moms in 2015, criticizing their anti-GMO stance, and explaining the safety and benefits of GMOs. The letter, in part, read:

Please, don’t co-opt motherhood and wield your fame to oppose beneficial technologies like genetic engineering. Certain celebrities have misled thousands of parents into thinking that vaccines are harmful, and we see the same pattern of misinformation repeating itself here. When GMOs are stigmatized, farmers and consumers aren’t able to benefit from much-needed advancements like plants with increased nutrients, or plants that can adapt to changing environmental stresses.[6]

This letter caught the attention of Natalie Newell, who said "I was so impressed to see this group of intelligent, relatable and reasonable moms standing up for science and against the fear-based culture that seems to have infected the world of parenting." Newell contacted one of the letter’s writers, Jenny Splitter, about possibly making a short documentary about science-based parenting. Then Splitter contacted other pro-science mothers she knew, and this chain of events resulted in the production of Science Moms.[7]

Description

Featured in the film in addition to Jenny Splitter are neuroscientist Alison Bernstein, plant geneticist Anastasia Bodnar, molecular geneticist Layla Katiraee, and science communicator Kavin Senapathy.[8] As reported by the Center for Inquiry: "Through interviews with five... moms with careers in science, we get both an idea of what the modern parent has to contend with, as well as some clarity on some of the more hot-button issues around food and health."[4]

Regarding the importance of the film's message, Senapathy said in an interview with Susan Gerbic for the Center for Inquiry that for many moms, parenthood becomes a large part of their identity. When that happens, "it is easy for purveyors of misinformation to exploit [them]."[9]

Producer/director Newell has said: "The goal of the movie is to provide a counter-narrative to the anti-GMO, anti-vax, pro-alternative medicine culture that has popped up in the world of parenting." She also said that critical thinking is very important, and she hopes Science Moms could act as a springboard to that end.[10]

Release

Panel discussion following the screening of Science Moms at CSICon 2017

Science Moms had its world premiere at QED in Manchester on October 14.[11][12] The American premiere of the film was held at the scientific skepticism conference, CSICon 2017, run by the Center For Inquiry, on October 28 in the Excalibur Hotel in Las Vegas.[5]

Immediately following the CSICon screening, four of the science moms featured in the film were joined by Natalie Newell for a panel discussion; this was followed by a question and answer session with the conference attendees.[4]

The film is currently available via digital download from the film's official website.[13]

See also

External links

References

  1. ^ Senapathy, Kavin. "'Science Moms' documentary counters anti-GMO, anti-vaccine misinformation". Geneticliteracyproject.org. Genetic Literacy Project. Archived from the original on 18 November 2017. Retrieved 18 November 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ "The Science Enthusiast Podcast". Blogtalkradio.com. Blogtalk Radio. Archived from the original on 18 November 2017. Retrieved 18 November 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  3. ^ "Science Moms on Kickstarter". Kickstarter.com. Kickstarter. Archived from the original on 19 November 2017. Retrieved 19 November 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  4. ^ a b c Fidalgo, Paul. "A Conversation, Not a Lecture, with the Science Moms". Centerforinquiry.live. CFI. Archived from the original on 18 November 2017. Retrieved 18 November 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ a b Hupp, Stephen. "SIUE's Hupp Produces Skeptical Film Premiering this Weekend". SIUE.edu. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Archived from the original on 18 November 2017. Retrieved 18 November 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  6. ^ Senapathy, Kavin. "Science Moms Documentary Aims To Shift Parenting Narrative From Fear To Facts". Forbes.com. Forbes. Retrieved 18 November 2017.
  7. ^ Mamone, Trav. "Meet the Science Moms". Pastemagazine.com. Paste Magazine. Archived from the original on 18 November 2017. Retrieved 18 November 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  8. ^ "PRESS KIT FOR THE FILM". Sciencemomsdoc.com. Science Moms. Archived from the original on 18 November 2017. Retrieved 18 November 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  9. ^ Gerbic, Susan. "An Interview with CSICon Speaker Kavin Senapathy". Csicop.org. CFI. Archived from the original on 18 November 2017. Retrieved 18 November 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  10. ^ Gerbic, Susan. "Addressing the Fear-Based Narrative Around GMOs with Natalie Newell". Csicop.org. CFI. Archived from the original on 18 November 2017. Retrieved 18 November 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  11. ^ "QED to screen premiere of Science Moms". qedcon.org. QED. Archived from the original on 18 November 2017. Retrieved 18 November 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  12. ^ "Event Schedule". qedcon. QED. Archived from the original on 18 November 2017. Retrieved 18 November 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  13. ^ "DIGITAL DOWNLOAD OF THE FILM". Sciencemomsdoc.com. Science Moms. Retrieved 18 November 2017.
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Science%20Moms&oldid=811049210

Leave a Reply