We haven’t actually received this comment yet, but no doubt, it’s coming eventually. That being the case let me indulge in a little bit of pre-buttal:

A 21-year-old kid telling you the way things are. Preposterous! What business do I have writing about science while I’m still in school, and not even taking a degree in science? Well… I’ll tell you.

Being who I am puts me in a unique* an appropriate position to comment on issues of science (and anti-science) in the media and popular culture. We have a systemic problem in our culture where science is often elevated above the heads of the average person, and in turn, the average person tends to turn away from science and skepticism and towards faith and credulity. However, this approach is certainly not an ideal one, and in a society like ours where science and technology play an integral role in how we live our lives, it can even be a dangerous one. One of the goals of this site is to show that anybody can (and should) learn to think skeptically, and embrace science as the oh-so-important part of our lives that it already has become.

The number of people and organizations out there who are willing to give you their take on the truth are just as numerous as ever. If you aren’t careful, it’s easy to get lost in all the pseudo-science, mysticism, and new age thinking. However, the truth isn’t something that is, or should be, only accessible to the spiritually enlightened, highly educated, or old/wise. It takes great minds to uncover the truth, but once we know what it is, there is nothing to stop everybody from learning and embracing it.

So who am I? I like to imagine I’m somewhat in the middle of all this. I have a casual interest in - and a fairly good grasp of - science, yet I don’t study or specialize in it. I’m just another average person with a keen interest in science, and want to know as much about the world around me as I possibly can, both so that I can make proper decisions, and just for the wonder of it all.

*It was pointed out to me that this probably wasn’t the best choice of words, since it isn’t really a unique position.