La science n'est pas une passion du peuple

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Les gens aiment penser qu'ils savent grosso modo ce qu'est la science, et que c'est une activité importante qu'il faut respecter dans nos sociétés modernes. Quand on gratte un peu la surface de leur respect, la vérité est pourtant navrante. Primo, ils confondent souvent la science avec leurs cours de lycée en blouse blanche, la tête d'Einstein, la technologie, ou pire la bombe atomique. Secundo, quand ils doivent choisir entre une soirée de télé scientifique extraordinaire et des émissions sans grand intérêt, leurs choix laissent la science en queue de peleton. Par exemple, hier soir :
• France 2,  Mystère à la Tour Eiffel 4 millions de téléspectateurs (16,4%)

• TF1,  New York Unité Spéciale 3,6 millions (15,6%).

• M6, Maison à vendre 3,4 millions (14,7%)

• W9,  Enquêtes criminelles 914.000 (4,1%)
Pendant que la plupart des concitoyens regardaient toutes ces émissions assez ordinaires, je me suis offert un festin scientifique sur France 5 dans la série Science Grand Format. Mais étant donné que les média et les magazines en France parlent peu de ces excellentes émissions, je ne sais pas grand-chose sur leur conception.

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