This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
During the recent lecture by Neil deGrasse Tyson at the University of Utah, he expressed his concerns about the declining role America has when it comes to science and research, and I share this concern ("Rock-star astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson urges crowd to embrace science," Tribune, March 25).
We used to be a world leader in these fields, and we would dream of the future lying just beyond the horizon. While on the surface it would seem that the public focus is set squarely on petty political bickering, reality TV and sports and entertainment stars, the fact that Dr. Tyson's lecture sold out in 90 minutes should indicate that the public still craves this vision, even if it's not a priority for our institutions and politicians.
I look at the Salt Lake Tribune website and I see an Arts section and four employees dedicated to reporting on the arts. I see a Sports section and 13 employees dedicated to sports.
I challenge the Tribune to be a leader and create a prominent Science & Technology section, or maybe a STEM section, on its site and employ someone who is dedicated to reporting on STEM topics. There's a lot going on in Utah that could be reported on, and an obvious public appetite.
Grant Larimer
Salt Lake City