KJ strikes back

Knut Jørgen Røed Ødegaard - a.k.a. KJ - refuses to go down for the count, and launched into counterstrike mode today during an interview with Radio P4. Even after a slew of criticism by colleagues, something I've blogged about here and here, not to mention Anders' contribution, KJ is able to muster the spunk necessary to strike back at his detractors. Just when you thought his betters had him over a barrel, KJ strikes. 'Cause that's how KJ rolls. Again, a big shout-out to T-bombz for bringing the radio interview to my attention.

In the interview, KJ layeth the smacketh downeth, stating that rather than condemning others, the time of his critical colleagues would be better spent getting the public interested in research. He then goes on to describe how he is a victim of his own good intentions, and that people who try to communicate science in mass media are being demonized by bitter, crusty academics who may know what they're talking about, but whom have never gotten tabloid headlines for having a mental breakdown following being a guest at a "high-school reunion" type of TV show. As I read the quotes, I could swear that I could hear the shuffling of his feet and the mumbling of the Romans as KJ was lugging his cross up Golgotha, and I remember thinking: "This is what it sounds like when doves cry".

..ok, so perhaps I'm paraphrasing a bit here, but dude was pulling the martyr card far more than what one would expect from a person who's gotten caught in the act of perpetrating factual errors. There are of course several sides to this story, and I would agree that envy might play a role in it, as does laziness from reporters who don't want to google new names when they need a go-to geek. Academics have to shoulder their share of the burden as well, seeing as how astronomy is a topic which can be sold due to access to fancy images , vast forces and doomsday scenarios.

KJ then went on to attack his colleagues, by stating that "When it comes to general astronomy, I reckon I've got more knowledge than the majority at the Department of Theoretical Astrophysics" ("Når det gjelder generell astronomi har nok jeg bedre kunnskap enn de fleste der oppe på Institutt for teoretisk astrofysikk"). This is a bonehead move if I ever saw one, as a) it places the burden of evidence squarely on the barely existing shoulders of KJ and b) considering how little knowledge of said department and the research which goes on there KJ has, as demonstrated by Prof. Aksnes, this statement is very likely to be wrong.

I've got tremenduous respect for the enthusiasm and willingness to share his knowledge with the public shown by KJ. However, it'd be a good thing if the information he communicated via mass media was somewhat accurate, which is what the objective criticism from e.g. Prof. Aksnes deals with. Oh; and if you google the name of Prof. Kaare Aksnes, it'll become pretty obvious that KJ has picked a fight with the wrong guy here...