[Taxacom] Biodiversity washes whiter

[Andy Mackie]

Dear All

At the National Museum of Wales, we too have been discussing the non-attribution of the BBC article.  It has now spread like wildfire throughout the world and I suspect it is an 'urban myth' due either to misinterpretation / exaggeration or of a survey with misleading questions.

• For example:
This article (http://www.open.ac.uk/alumni/news-events/publications/openeye-bulletins/may-2010/may-2010.php) implies the 'recent' survey was a NHM one and that "A common reply was that it is a kind of washing powder."  Other press reports between 30% (http://www.kew.org/news/kew-blogs/Kew-Magazine-goes-to-the-ball.htm) and 80% (http://www.chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk/education/teachersnewsletters/biodiversitynewsletter.doc) thought that. Note the wide range of date

• However, it is possible that it is a skewed result from a survey such as here (see No. 3. Student sheet answers and activities)
http://www.environment.gov.au/education/publications/biodiversity/index.html
If  'Washing Powder' is given as a possible answer, it could encourage an increased response for this option.

• I am more inclined to believe a MORI poll from the late 1990s (http://www.bis.gov.uk/files/file14580.pdf)
In this the number confusing "biology" with soap powder was 1%.  Further, it was stated that this percentage was the same as those believing "biodiversity" was a soap powder in a 1988 MORI poll for the World Wide Fund for Nature.

Methinks the BBC article etc is a case of not letting the facts (if there are any) get in the way of a good headline!

Andy

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Dr Andrew S. Y. Mackie  F.L.S.                          ::            Honorary Chairman
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