Alan Alda is recognised across the world for his role as Captain Benjamin ‘Hawkeye’ Pierce of the 4077th M*A*S*H (mobile army surgical hospital) and as Republican senator and presidential nominee Arnold Vinick in the US drama West Wing.
But you might not know that as well as being an award-winning actor, director, screen writer and author, he is also a passionate ambassador for the communication of science, and his work in that field will be recognised on June 21 when he receives an honorary degree from Dundee University.
Later on that day, at 6pm in the Dalhousie Building, An Evening With Alan Alda, chaired by author and broadcaster Dr Adam Rutherford, will focus on Alan’s passion for communication and his zeal for exploring new knowledge and technology.
“I was always curious as a child, and in my early 20s I started reading everything I could about science,” says Alan.
Hosting US TV show Scientific American Frontiers, where he interviewed thousands of scientists , he developed a knack for helping them communicate complex ideas in ways a wide audience could understand.
He began to wonder if those techniques held a clue to better communication for the rest of us.
Today he is a visiting professor at Stony Brook University where he is a founding member and advisor to the Alan Alda Centre for Communicating Science, where scientists learn communicative skills to help us understand science better without all the jargon.
“My goal is to see communication taught to all students of science and medicine as part of their normal education,” he enthuses. “At the Alda Center, we’ve developed an effective way to help people be better communicators and I want to see it spread around the world.”
Alan, who counts Marie Curie (the first woman to win the Nobel Prize) and physicist Richard Feynman as his science heroes, is no stranger to awards but is thrilled to be receiving the honour from Dundee University.
“I feel touched and honoured,” he says. “Who knew my life would bring me here for this very kind recognition for what I’ve tried to do?”
Alan’s latest book If I Understood You, Would I Have This Look on My Face? My Adventures in the Art and Science of Relating and Communicating chronicles how he found inspiration in everything from cutting-edge science to classic acting methods to help people communicate and relate more effectively.
Entry to An Evening with Alan Alda is free.
www.alanalda.com and www.dundee.ac.uk
Read more about Alan Alda’s career in tomorrow’s Courier Weekend magazine and at www.thecourier.co.uk
