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Bird is the word – on the importance of ethical and effective scientific communication

2015; Cambridge University Press; Volume: 95; Issue: 5 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1017/s0025315415000193

1469-7769

Sam Dupont, Gregory Neils Puncher, Piero Calosi,

Coral and Marine Ecosystems Studies

Back in 1963, the proto-punk band The Trashmen released the single Surfin ’ bird (written by Frazier, White, Harris & Wilson Jr. and released in November 1963 by Garrett label; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZThquH5t0ow ). Fifty years later and despite the obscure lyrics, the song remains iconic in western pop culture; e.g. through the recurrent appearance in the TV show Family Guy (e.g. I dream of Jesus episode, released on 5 October 2008; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WNrx2jq184 ). It is thought that the line ‘ everybody knows that the bird is the word ’ was inspired by a highly successful and catchy radio jingle released/commissioned in post prohibitionist USA by the Gallo brothers to boost the sales of their inexpensive fortified Thunderbird wine: ‘ What's the word? Thunderbird ’ ( http://www.absurdintellectual.com/2009/06/05/everybodys-heard-that-the-bird-is-the-word-but-its-not-what-they-think/ ). This illustrates how a simple and catchy message can have a profound and long-lasting influence on society.