Science and Natural History discussion

I've really enjoyed all the books we've read since I joined this group. While I haven't been as active in the discussions as I would have liked, I'd hate to see the group fold.

I understand that Kris isn't able to be very active these days, but is Emma still around? Can another admin be added? I'd be willing to help if someone can tell me what's needed.

In the meantime, is anyone else interested in reading and discussing Carl Safina's "Beyond Words: What Animals Think and Feel?"

Wait!
I saw that there are very few threads/comments in the group. Why isnt everyone participating?

good question.

Thank you for reminding me to post. I often get to a book late but still am happy to have the recommendations. .

I joined this group less than 2 months ago, I hoped it was active, but then I thought it was an abandoned group.

Potentially, it is the best scientific group for me, as I am interested in biology and natural science, conservation and ecology, while other scientific groups often talks about phisics or technology.

I hope it's a new beginning.

This is a large group and would work if someone would be the administrator, help us select a book, and then we read and discuss it. This is repeated each month. The benefits are endless.

This is a large group and would work if someone would be the administrator, help us select a book, and then we read and discuss it. This is repeated each month. The benefits are endless.

This is a large group and would work if someone would be the administrator, help us select a book, and then we read and discuss it. This is repeated each month. The benefits are endless.

Would i be all right? How can one be a new moderator?

The only way to be a 'new' moderator is to be added by one of the existing moderators. Neither Kris nor Emma have responded to my offer to help.

Maybe they are giving us a message: the point of it all is that God neglected you.

Katherine (Kat) wrote: "I've really enjoyed all the books we've read since I joined this group. While I haven't been as active in the discussions as I would have liked, I'd hate to see the group fold.

I understand that K..."

Hi, Emma isn't and hasn't been active on this group for a long time. She was inactive already when I got on as help. I'd love for you to help out.

Getting people to read and discuss books would be what is needed. We've usually done it with suggestions and polls ahead of each month, but I've been too busy with my day jobs as a student and treasurer of a organization to get it done properly and has as such neglected it.

I don't always have the time or interest in joining group reads so seldom participate, although I do like to see the many suggestions put forth. What I enjoy most about groups is when members post about what they have been reading or respond to my posts with added suggestions about similar books or topics.
What "kills" a group, for me, is when it is dominated by self-promotion posts by authors. I have dropped out of several groups where almost the only new posts that appear are authors pushing their works. It becomes like a magazine where it's hard to find the articles because of all the ads.

I agree about the self-promotion. And even though I don' participate a lot, I do value reading comments by other menbers.

I too have been lazy during discussions and often don't read the books we've chosen. I vote for them but because my budget doesn't allow purchasing too many books, nor do I live where there are large bookstores, I borrow from the library. Sometimes either my library doesn't have the book in stock and by the time I get it through interlibrary loan, the reading period has ended. Frankly, I wish we picked books two months in advance, or set up a schedule for a half-year. But maybe I'm the only one with this issue.

Just the same, I enjoy the discussion and wish there were more of them. Even if I don't like wha you might say, I like hearing another perspective....and often, when I do, it leads me to reconsider my POV. Regardless, I enjoy this group and hope it continues.

Kikyosan wrote: "I joined this group less than 2 months ago, I hoped it was active, but then I thought it was an abandoned group.

Potentially, it is the best scientific group for me, as I am interested in biology..."

Exactly - my interests as well. Thanks.

Agree with Bette above...

I hope that with the flurry of posts that this group can be salvaged, revitalized, and we can begin good discussions on natural science. We have a good base, now we need some forward movement.

I'm more than happy to help. I will contact goodreads, maybe they can help solve this problem.

Hello Phair and Sara. I think promotion is not bad if done properly. In some ways, it helps liven up the groups. I'm an author myself and I'd love to be among the first ones to know about new books.

I will let you know what goodreads says about possibilities of becoming new moderators. Who else wants to be a moderator? I want to say to myself that moderators aren't obliged to do everything, just something will suffice.

Goodreads replied:
Hi Andreas,

Thanks for writing in! I checked the group and two of the moderators seem to have last been active this month and last month. You can send them a private message expressing your interest to be a moderator.

I then asked them: who are the two moderators?

Goodreads replied: Kristoffer and Katherine

Andreas wrote: "Goodreads replied: Kristoffer and Katherine"

Yes. I'm a bit amazed that you didn't see my reply further up to Kat. You are now a moderator.

Since we now have new moderators to help (YAY!), can someone please open a thread/poll so we can nominate books for the October reading discussion. Pretty please?

Elentarri wrote: "Since we now have new moderators to help (YAY!), can someone please open a thread/poll so we can nominate books for the October reading discussion. Pretty please?"

Done.

If the new mods would take care of when the nominations should end and the poll that'd be appreciated.

Thanks Kristoffer :)

I'm on the learning curve and I'll learn fast. Thank you, Kristoffer!!
We'll start with monthly book discussion.

Phair wrote: "I don't always have the time or interest in joining group reads so seldom participate, although I do like to see the many suggestions put forth. What I enjoy most about groups is when members post about what they have been reading or respond to my posts with added suggestions about similar books or topics.
What "kills" a group, for me, is when it is dominated by self-promotion posts by authors. I have dropped out of several groups where almost the only new posts that appear are authors pushing their works. It becomes like a magazine where it's hard to find the articles because of all the ads.
"

Excellent post, and I totally agree!

Has this group died again? Can it be resurrected or should we just cremate it?

Sorry, life got complicated. Groups live when people contribute to conversations. I haven't been able to read the selected books since February(not in our local library, and no budget for buying), so I haven't contributed much.

I made a new science group: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/... it is just me so company would be greatly appreciated and welcomed.

All groups seem to have less participation since GR dropped the groups from the home page & created the mobile app that doesn't favor them either. Now users have to rely on email updates which have never worked all that well. I use the "My Discussions" page (click your profile picture & then "My Discussions") which is the old group home page. That shows me all new comments in my groups.

It seems to me this group is very focused on just group reads of specific books. What about adding topic(s) for 'In the News' or some areas of interest? Science is all around us, impacting our lives in so many ways. They're often complicated & I have questions. Sometimes I have answers or opinions. It would be great to discuss them with others.

Jim wrote: "All groups seem to have less participation since GR dropped the groups from the home page & created the mobile app that doesn't favor them either. Now users have to rely on email updates which have..."

Feel free! Have been somewhat focused in direction of monthly read in the past, but interest and possibility for managing that is low at least for me. Members coming with whatever Science related they'd like is fine by me.

I'll try to chime in - but can't really take initiative with my current studies/work/life balance.

Thanks. Will do.
:)

In my experience GR readers prefer fiction/literature. For some reason people seem less prone to post in non-fiction groups. I ran a news section in my natural history group for months, but almost nobody engaged with the news items I posted. Perhaps the niche is too small?

That's a shame, but I think you're right. I don't understand it. I grew up reading science fiction & now find much of it coming true. I see a mushroom/bug/tree/bird & realize I have no clue what it is. I feel so ignorant sometimes. That's not limited to new stuff, either. I'm reading Farm Conveniences: A Practical Handbook for the Farm, an old book from 1884 & just read about how concrete is made from scratch. Cool stuff. Interesting, even if I do forget half of it in a few months.

True - there are a lot of natural history as well as simple practical matters that we just don't grasp as individuals. We have become high tech users contained in cubicles.....
I don't think I would be able to make concrete from scratch. I faintly recall that the Romans were great makers of concrete (improved their harbors)... Hmm, esoteric indeed.

Have you by any chance seen (or read) James Burke's Connections?
Connections
Neat for getting a feel for how we got here in terms of inventions.

Thanks! I haven't read Connections & my libraries don't seem to have it. I've put it on my 'buy-for-me' shelf. I did find "Reconnections" by him on the Internet Archive.
https://archive.org/details/JamesBurk...

Interesting stuff. Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind & Before the Dawn: Recovering the Lost History of Our Ancestors aren't as specific, but were good overall looks. I really liked the way Harari broke things up. It wasn't a way I'd seen before.

Hi
I am new and not really worthy to give great suggestions. But the problem with bare science is that it is complicated and heavy to understand.
When it´s mixed with gamification, flow and short, understandable "lessons" it´s open to a far wider audience. Take for instance popular and influential youtube channels, bloggers or facebook groups. They are seen by billions and followed and liked by millions. That´s the way science can be brought closer to way more people.
Best regards