Principal’s Lecture Series – Simon Singh
On Saturday 28 January, staff, girls and parents had the pleasure of listening to a lecture by the charismatic Simon Singh entitled ‘Science and the Media – the good, the bad and the ugly.’ Although many of us thought this lecture was going to be focussed on Mathematics and Science, it was delightfully interspersed with video clips of various fascinating documentaries that Mr Singh had directed.
We started with a quick introduction to the absorbing problem that is ‘Fermat’s Last Theorem’, and then subtly moved on to more general ethical problems such as responsible journalism. 
After being shown an eye opening clip showing open heart surgery being performed without anaesthetic – the only pain relief seemed to come from acupuncture; we were told that in that documentary not all the facts had been represented, and in actual fact, the patient had been given several incredibly powerful sedatives before the surgery was performed.
It was a powerful lecture with many messages. I am sure one that many took away was that we, the public, have a responsibility to ourselves and to society to report irresponsible journalism, and to be more critical of what we see represented in the media.
Amabel Clarke, SFC2
Article Created 30/01/2012