C-SPAN, Science Style

Wired.com is reporting a move to launch a new science TV channel called Cable Science Network (CSN). It will look and feel like C-SPAN, showing unedited talks from major scientific conferences, profiles of the best U.S. science teachers and researchers, Q&A’s with science authors, etc. People behind this effort include University of California at San Diego neuroscientists, Ann Druyan (Carl Sagan’s widow and founder of the science education venture Cosmos Studios), and astronaut and physicist Sally Ride.

It would be cool to see some real science on TV for once, rather than the science-lite stuff that fills the cable networks: computer-generated dinosaurs, sharks biting people, tough guys souping up their cars in their garages. And this would be a great way to bring the public into scientific meetings and labs. But are there enough science-loving folk out there to support this channel? Will watching a biochemist fumble through Powerpoint slides appeal to the Queer Eye for the Straight Guy fans?