Science-Edu-Communication: Trends Reveal in 20 Years of Science Communication Research

Abstract

By investigating scholarly output in science communication from 1997 to 2018, this research sought evidence that science education has been increasingly focusing on communication methods to reach the public. Through an automatic scientometric method, this study analyzed 1300 articles published in two leading journals in the field of science communication. As a result, seven trends were revealed and categorized into three themes: Public engagement with science (PES); Media and science (MS); and Issues in science (IS). Furthermore, PES and MS scholarly output were found increased significantly. The findings confirmed the goal of this research. However, it then suggested a research area of bridging science education and science communication that is currently less explored. Given increased focus towards PES and MS, these fields are primed for further collaboration to more engage the public in science learning. Keywords: CATAR, scientometric analysis, science communication, science education, science-edu-communication.

Merging Science Education into Communication: Developing and Validating a Scale for Science Edu-Communication Utilizing Awareness, Enjoyment, Interest, Opinion formation, and Understanding Dimensions (SEC-AEIOU)

“…While the science edu-communication scale using AEIOU constructs measures participants' experiences with science communication, it may also be directed to the participants' experience toward science education in a broader sense (i.e., citizen/public science education). Literature has recently increased attention towards research linkages between science communication and science education, emphasizing shared goals and avenues for collaboration [6][7][8]10]. Moreover, special editions of several journals or issues and the emergence of more journals (beyond Public Understanding of Science and Science Communication) have started to advocate for the need to research and practice science communication and science education together, such as: 2015 special issue on "Bridging Sci.…”

“…For the current study, these metrics form the most important components of the SEC scale used to analyse audiences' responses regarding a science communication activity or experience. As Wu and colleagues introduced a research trend in Science Edu-Communication (SEC) [6], the current study sought to establish and validate a conceptual framework using dimensions of the AEIOU framework for effective evaluation of science communication experiences.…”

"Unless You Can Explain": Voices of Graduate Students and Their Professor Regarding theImportance of Science Communication Course

“…The diagram is constructed based on participants' voices in identifying science and communication as a discipline in establishing a science communication course. Thus, science education focuses on communication methods to reach the public (Aberšek & Aberšek, 2010;Wu et al, 2019).…”

The competence, interest, and perceived self-efficacy of undergraduate students in science communication

“…In today's ever-changing scientific landscape and society, effective science communication is crucial to connecting the scientific community and the general public (Baram-Tsabari & Lewenstein, 2017;Fähnrich et al, 2021;Wu et al, 2019). In today's age of unprecedented technological advancements and complex global challenges, it is increasingly crucial for scientists to convey their discoveries clearly and understandably (Bammer, 2020;Fähnrich et al, 2021;Ishmuradova et al, 2023).…”