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control, and lowering your high blood our generation. We need to step up to the pressure. You should also limit your alcohol intake for obvious reasons and to avoid challenge. drinking needless calories. One of the most important parts of surviving the pandemic and economic downturn is Know that drinking alcohol, Clorox, Lysol, making sure we’re following and basing our bleach or hand sanitizer in any form does not actions on reliable information. We must be kill the virus or stop you from getting it and careful not to fall victim to “fake news” and can harm you instead. Smoking is never the rumors with our actions responding to the right answer and weakens your lungs. virus and rebuilding our economic houses. Arming yourself with as much truth and For some of the top myths around coronavirus/ debunking myths about coronavirus and the Covid-19, recommend checking the links to pandemic will help you make responsible recent stories included with this article. They choices and keep you safer, in better shape even discuss the slim to none relationship of and show others that you mean business when it comes to your health and how you the virus to 5G. live. Combining that with the wisdom your In short answers to self-care in this pandemic elders and their elders have gifted to you will season: yes to taking supplemental vitamin let you rise above the crowd and stand apart c, vitamin d, zinc, exercising, getting enough from the herd. sleep, reducing stress, time in the sun with sunscreen, keeping your blood sugar under Learn a Little More
10 Myths About the Coronavirus You Shouldn’t Believe: From who can get it to how to get rid of it: Top myths get busted by Rachel Nania, 5/8/20. Retrieved from: https://www.aarp.org/health/conditionstreatments/info-2020/coronavirus-myths. html 21 Myths About Coronavirus You Need to Stop Believing Now by Colby Hall, 4/23/20. Retrieved from: https://www.msn.com/en-us/ health/medical/7-myths-about-coronavirusyou-need-to-stop-believing-now/ssBB11gprU#image=1 YouTube Video: Why a vaccine for coronavirus will take longer to develop than you might think: Just The FAQs. Retrieved from: https://youtu.be/hO-UiPoi3iI Lisa D. Benton, MD, MPH (The Doctor is In) breastsurgeonlb@gmail.com, Twitter:@ DctrLisa (415) 746-0627
LET’S HAVE A MOMENT OF SCIENCE been heightened to its rightful pinnacle state. Indeed, science unlocks many of the painful and scary conundrums we find ourselves in, By Frederic Bertley, PhD and provides a uniquely fair and real solution The murder of George Floyd – if only we give it the respectful, forwardby four policemen, each facing chance that it so glaringly deserves. of whom chose a career to protect and serve – one As a civic-minded, African American with a knee on the neck and the other three scientist, I feel compelled to link this with their bodies on the victim – is not only pernicious period we all find ourselves in graphically appalling and horrifying, it is to the importance of science and scientific unconscionable and inexcusable. If it were discovery. It is science that will help us a one-off, I would not cry racism. But as a understand the spread, morbidity and scientist, who consistently turns toward data, mortality of the coronavirus. It is science that the research abounds and the conclusions will afford us the development of therapeutics are clear – racism exits. And Black men in to assist and facilitate the recovery of our loved ones. It is science that will ultimately America die at the hands of it. offer up a vaccine to globally control the While I will not go over the history of how pandemic. It is science, and education around we got here, as most of us know it anyhow, it, that will assist with the STEM workforce what is noteworthy, however, is that 150 development pipeline issue, help men and years later, the promise of forty-acres remains women get great paying jobs, and help unfulfilled, and there still is no mule! Instead, elevate many individuals and families out of there is the lifeless body, the corpse of poverty. George Floyd, just another data point in the ever-growing racism data base. It is my hope And now, with the latest social cultural that this time, during this momentous moment upheaval, it is again science, that lights our in history, that Mr. Floyd’s murder will not way forward, with its clear delineation that be archived as “just another data point”, but the concept of “race” is a fallacious, maninstead, catalyze a necessary change. It is made invention to differentiate and divide my hope that Mr. George Floyd’s narrative people. And, as evidenced during America’s precipitate out a meaningful dialogue, a chattel slavery period and its ensuing Jim capacity for all to be honest and vulnerable, Crow era, this invention of “race” works! and ready us to do the hard work towards real But science and education will right that reconciliation. wrong. In 2012, the Center of Science and As the contemporary reality tightens its Industry (COSI) hosted an exhibition called grip on America, science, together with “RACE – Are We So Different?” This all its offspring engineering, and its parents ages exhibit created by the National Science education, have never been more critical. Foundation and the Science Museum of Science has democratically and ubiquitously Minnesota, (ironically the city where George
The Columbus African & Dayton American African American News Journal • June • February 2020 2015
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Floyd was murdered), exposed in an elegant, engaging and data driven way, that the notion of “races” is a social construct – not founded whatsoever in biology or science, but rather steeped in hatred, hierarchical and “white supremacy” beliefs. In an easily digestible manner, the RACE exhibit educated and illuminated the reality and scientific truth that “WE, the people,” are all essentially biologically the same, regardless of skin color, religion, and political allegiance. Furthermore, it is down to our unique DNA, which, with the microenvironments we find ourselves in, is solely responsible for who we are. Yes, the concept of “race” has no scientific merit. In 2020, the Center of Science and Industry (COSI), was voted the number one science museum in nation by USA Today and stands as a beacon of light and science during these tumultuous times. We intimately understand that “science is everywhere, and science is for everyone!” We stand not just as a science museum, but as a cultural institutional benchmark to help all people – everyone – through science and education, to be better citizens and have a notable and real chance at a fulfilling life, fraught with practiced liberty and an attainable pursuit of happiness. Racism, and murder based on skin color, have no place in the pantheon of science and education, and certainly should have no place in our American society and our claimed liberty and pursuit of happiness. The time has come. Let us have an infinitely enduring moment of science. Dr. Frederic Bertley is the President and CEO of the Center Of Science and Industry (COSI) in Columbus.
