Everyday Scientist

best podcast … ever

June 23, 2008 at 12:35 pm | sam | EDSELs, literature, science community, wild web

JACS^β is ACS’s attempt at going Web2.0, but I’m not too impressed, yet. The strangest thing is the JACS podcasts, which is nothing more than someone reading a JACS Comm word-for-word … literally! Seriously, they even read the submission date and describe the figures.

You can’t really get the full effect of a scientific article unless it’s narrated. Back in my day, we had all papers read to us out loud; I’ve never picked up a journal or read a paper on a computer screen. I’ve just hired someone to read anything I hand to him.

Seriously, though, I challenge you to go listen to the two podcasts they have at the JACS^β website. See if you can listen to and understand the articles all the way through.

Craziness.

UPDATE: My labmate pointed out the following: “The best thing is that according to the website, the JACS podcast is ‘Free for a limited time.’ Limited!?! Like we’ll pay for it after?” Ha!