Where Are the Transcripts?

We’ve been running our Science Café reader survey for a while now and the responses, although still fewer than 50, are revealing. Biggest complaint: Where are the transcripts? Here’s the answer. We have tried to speed up the transcriptions by sending the recordings out to web-based transcription services, but the University requires that these companies sign a nondisclosure HIPAA agreement and file a W-9. Not huge obstacles, of course, but try to explain these requirements to someone whose business model is built on speed. Since these companies also only take credit cards, someone here has to front the money and then wait to get reimbursed. That takes time, too. And the automatic web transcription services don’t handle scientific terminology well, which means we have to read and edit them carefully, in any case. The only alternative is to have someone on the Public Affairs team listen and transcribe the conversations in painstaking and laborious fashion. So, to those readers who keep asking, we’re working on the problem and trying to fix it. More transcripts will be available soon. So, too, will be an index that allows you to search both topics and the names of scientists interviewed for Science Café. Now for some other results. The bulk of survey respondents want to hear first about scientific breakthroughs – an interesting bias, considering that Science Café was originally conceived as something that would provide a little more context and back story. Close behind is a preference for insights into disease. How the brain works, science literacy and how serendipity figures into discovery are the other top vote-getters. I will take all of this into consideration as Science Café branches out in the months ahead. Now you can help me. Send me a general question you would like me to ask scientists during future conversations. I’m waiting.