How can Science Communication enhance

the undergraduate curriculum?

Giskin DayScience Communication Group

Department of Humanities

What do we want from our scientists?

You just have to dumb everything

down when talking to the public.

Avoid the media. They are rubbish at covering

science.

If only I could tell the public more about

science, they would be more supportive.

Is this going to be in the exam? How

much does it count?

What constitutes good science communication?

Abstract, intro, method, discussion, conclusion

Downward transmission from scientist to citizen

Science is seen as coherent, objective, and has clear boundaries from other disciplines

Science is unencumbered by social, political and institutional connections

Uptake of science is determined by intellectual ability

‘Ignorance’ on the part of the public has to be remedied

‘Scientific thinking’ is the proper yardstick with which to measure ‘everyday thinking’

Characteristics of the cognitive-deficit model

‘Cross talk’ between scientists and citizens Science is seen as contingent, with permeable

boundaries: uncertainty is an opportunity rather than a threat.

Science is inextricable from social, political and institutional connections

Uptake of science is determined by trust in sources and openness in negotiations

‘Ignorance’ can be functional ‘Everyday thinking’ is much less well

understood than ‘scientific thinking’

Characteristics of the dialogic model

What does Climategate tell us?

Communication is not an ‘app’: it’s part of the hardware of science

Science is fraught with politics Science has a history of overselling its ability

to deliver answers with certainty Science is not ‘value-free’. To acknowledge contextual factors is not to

be ‘anti-science’.

Unless we acknowledge the ‘messy’ nature of science, we risk disillusioning our

undergraduates.

But…

the possibilities for creativity, intellectualism and ‘real-world’ meaningfulness are inspiring.

Trends

Communalism: now realistic Transparency Open access Scrutiny Proliferation of social media

What you can do

Discuss context as well as content Challenge preconceptions Recognise science as primarily a persuasive

activity Resist reductionism Acknowledge subjectivity Encourage creativity

http://www.sciencecartoonsplus.com/pages/contact.php

Being honest about uncertainty.

The public can handle it.

Recognising that media bashing is

unproductive.

Peer review is a means of establishing collective

responsibility rather than a guarantee of accuracy.

Not being patronising. People are very good

at finding out what they need to know, when they need to

know it.

Is this going to be in the exam? How

much does it count?

What constitutes good science communication?

Realising that data do not speak for themselves. Interpretation needs to be motivated.