GIGO

Hailing Heroes

There has been a lot of discussion about the place of heroes in our society recently, as people react to the abolishment of knighthoods. What makes a hero and how do we -- or how should we -- recognise them?

I've often scanned the Honours Lists looking for the odd name I know. Scientists seem to appear less frequently than Rotarians and Girl Guide leaders, but the size of the community means I'm usually familiar with the name and the work, if only from a distance. It's a pleasure to be able to send a congratulatory card, and doubly so when the recipient has featured in our own pages.

A formal award allows us to participate in the pat on the back, if only briefly at the time of the announcement. But I think that we have lost something with the loss of the knighthood. Few scientists are sticklers for their academic titles, let alone civil awards, and I suspect that many a fancy citation lies gathering dust under a pile of journals and research papers. The knighthoods, for all their apparent obsolescence, were the only award where the recognition of effort and service remained with you daily.

And yet the concept of honouring a single person in a scientific endeavour is contrary, in many respects, to the nature of science itself. Often it is these people who are the first to demur, requesting recognition for the team efforts that have typically been involved in their success.

Don Merton is one scientist who has been recognised for his role in conservation work -- he's one of the few I've seen to star in a children's book (Mary Taylor's delightful Old Blue). Yet I get the impression that he'd rather retain anonymity amongst all the others who have helped our endangered bird life over the years. There are a lot of unsung heroes out there.

However, once you leave the house system behind in your schooldays, it's rare to encounter any group reward that acknowledges the combined efforts of individuals towards a common goal.

Now that would make an interesting addition to the honours roll next month.

Vicki Hyde is the editor of New Zealand Science Monthly.