Talk:James Burke (science historian)

Some update as to current scholarship would be useful. It's also hard to remember how innovative Connections was when it first appeared. Even a decade after it first appeared, it still seemed vigorous and new to audiences. Some compare and contrast and reaction stuff might be nice to add context.

Anyone have details about The Burke Specials TV series from the early seventies ? AtomBoy 01:23, 8 April 2006 (UTC)

Actually that would have to be the LATE 70s. Definitely post-Apollo. There were six 30-min shows (possibly 2x6, I can't exactly remember) -- the format was a audience show, in the round, only semi-scripted (cue cards instead of teleprompter). Each show had a science-based theme and a very popular approach. One that I particularly remember was on the theme of attraction between the sexes, with amusing and revealing audience participation. Two or three producer/writers were on the team. I worked as producer/director with JB on many shows in those days, but not that particular series. El Ingles 15:47, 8 April 2006 (UTC)

The Burke Special is my favourite of all his shows. It ran from 1972 to 1976. Why is it not listed in the main article? By the way, it was one of the featured shows on TV 73 - the Defining Shows on BBC4 on 6 April 2006, and repeated on 19 April. Grant 21:04, 10 April 2006 (UTC)

Because noone who knows about it has written it in yet! go for it ;-) --Quiddity 19:01, 19 April 2006 (UTC)

Sorted. Grant 23:04, 19 April 2006 (UTC)

"The Neuron Suite" was not, in fact, a series. It was a single documentary which won several awards. I know, 'cuz I produced it. I made a slight edit. El Ingles 00:21, 20 April 2006 (UTC)

What does he think of Wikipedia??--Deglr6328 10:47, 29 November 2006 (UTC)

"British"

Is James Burke in fact "British?" He was born in northern Ireland. The Oxford English Dictionary describes British as such:

2. a. Of or belonging to Great Britain, or its inhabitants. In the earlier instances only a geographical term adopted from Latin; from the time of Henry VIII frequently used to include English and Scotch; in general use in this sense from the accession of James I, and in 17th c., often opposed to Irish; legally adopted at the Union in 1707. Now chiefly used in political or imperial connexion, as the British army, British colonies, British India, etc., British ambassador, consul, residents, etc.; also in scientific and commercial use, as British plants, British butterflies, British spirits.

My emphasis. It seems, if his nationality is to be given at all, that he should be described as Irish rather than British.

Irish is described as such:

Of persons: Of, belonging to, or native to Ireland; orig. and esp. used of the Celtic inhabitants.

He's Irish, isn't he?Larry Dunn 14:48, 3 January 2007 (UTC)

No, the adjective Irish is reserved for citizens of the Republic of Ireland, a.k.a. Eire. Technically you have a point, and this is certainly confusing. The term Great Britain excludes Northern Ireland, The United Kingdom includes it, and The British Isles includes it and Eire, being purely geographical not political. El Ingles 15:46, 3 January 2007 (UTC)

"Is James Burke in fact "British?" He was born in northern Ireland."

Burke is British because he was born in Northern Ireland. He is also Irish. Being British and Irish isn't mutually exclusive (consider English and British; Scottish and British; Welsh and British). The sub-nationality "Northern Irish" is usually used to differentiate from the citizenship of the Republic of Ireland, which is described as "Irish". The adjective Irish is most definately not reserved for citizens of the Republic of Ireland.

The Oxford English dictionary is using the technically incorrect, but more colloquial term, "Great Britain" in place of "United Kingdom". --Mal 23:23, 30 June 2007 (UTC)

Depends whether you believe that Northern Ireland should be part of Britain, or part of Ireland. Personally, I would say he was Irish. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 79.75.31.17 (talk) 11:36, 5 January 2008 (UTC)

Degree/Training

I've heard that Burke's degree was in fact in Middle English rather than any science-based discipline. Would this be worth adding? Also, the article refers to him receiving his MA from Oxford University, which may well be correct but should perhaps also note that both Oxford and Cambridge Universities award MAs as a matter of course to graduates holding the lower BA degree after a period of time. Eg: I was awarded my MA by Cambridge three years after attaining my BA but without doing any further academic work in that period. Burke almost certainly will have obtained a BA some time prior to the MA - can this be confirmed? Sitush 12:20, 4 August 2007 (UTC)

WikiProject class rating

This article was automatically assessed because at least one WikiProject had rated the article as start, and the rating on other projects was brought up to start class. BetacommandBot 16:05, 10 November 2007 (UTC)

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