Nightingale Collaboration

[Guest guest]

Hi , Anne, and all

interesting conversation - I particularly like your suggestions to just keep asking 'what makes you think that?' to the original post.

The UK sceptics who are so energetic have also some colleagues in Australia - Friends of Science in Medicine - http://www.scienceinmedicine.org.au/.

This is a group of academics who have got together to persuade the ViceChancellors of Australian universities that the teaching of alternative medicine in universities should be discontinued. Unless of course it is completely evidence-based. Which would mean the further bastardisation of herbal medicine - with the EBM 'support' being taught without the rest of the discipline.

Also have a look at http://scienceontop.com/2012/04/sot-special-friends-of-science-in-medicine/

and http://sansscience.wordpress.com/2012/01/24/new-friends-of-science-in-medicine-combating-pseudoscience-in-australian-universities/

Certainly they appear to be a significant new pressure group in the field, getting some media traction.

regards to all

Sue

(currently physically a long way from this action in Oz - relocated to northern Peru for the year. learning about a very different health system and its challenges - but in touch with home through the wonders of communication technologies)

[Guest guest]

Hi Sue

I was aware of this gang and have been keeping a watchful eye on them.

However it seems (from this distance at least and the limited information I

have) that the Australian universities have not keeled over quite like the UK

ones. A bit of fighting back as far as I am aware. And good on them.

Unfortunately UK unis have also been effected by the economic situation here

(Australia escaped recession) and unis are closing courses right left and centre

- not just herbal medicine or other CAM courses. The govt has reduced university

funding massively, brought in high fees, and is talking of axing a load of

universities completely.

So in that climate, expensive to run courses are bound to go. For instance, I

think it's about half the Occupational Therapy courses that have been ditched.

It's now impossibly to study Botany at degree level in the UK. Several

universities have closed their philosophy departments fueling a debate about

whether or not you can have a university if it has no philosophy dept.

Anyway, enjoy Peru. I expect we'll read something about it before long -

enjoyed reading your article on WHM in the Journal.

best wishes

>

> Hi , Anne, and all

>

> interesting conversation - I particularly like your suggestions to just

keep asking 'what makes you think that?' to the original post.

>

> The UK sceptics who are so energetic have also some colleagues in Australia -

Friends of Science in Medicine - http://www.scienceinmedicine.org.au/.

>

> This is a group of academics who have got together to persuade the

ViceChancellors of Australian universities that the teaching of alternative

medicine in universities should be discontinued. Unless of course it is

completely evidence-based. Which would mean the further bastardisation of herbal

medicine - with the EBM 'support' being taught without the rest of the

discipline.

>

> Also have a look at

http://scienceontop.com/2012/04/sot-special-friends-of-science-in-medicine/

> and

http://sansscience.wordpress.com/2012/01/24/new-friends-of-science-in-medicine-c\

ombating-pseudoscience-in-australian-universities/

>

> Certainly they appear to be a significant new pressure group in the field,

getting some media traction.

>

> regards to all

>

> Sue

>

> (currently physically a long way from this action in Oz - relocated to

northern Peru for the year. learning about a very different health system and

its challenges - but in touch with home through the wonders of communication

technologies)

>