Why Science Communication, and Does It Work? A Taxonomy of Science Communication Aims and a Survey of the Empirical Evidence

Abstract

In this paper, we offer a novel conceptual framework of some of the most important aims for science communication efforts found in the contemporary literature on science communication. We identify several distinct aims present in the literature such as generating public epistemic and moral trust, generating social acceptance, and enhancing democratic legitimacy, and we discuss some of the relations between the different aims. Finally, we examine whether and, if so, to what extent these different aims can be said to have been successfully reached in practice and find that the empirical literature regarding the evaluation of science communications efforts is scarce. We conclude by suggesting that science communicators be attentive to formulating their communicative aim(s) in more precise terms, as well as conduct systematic studies of the effectiveness of their communicative efforts.

eB4CAST Approach Improves Science Communication With Stakeholders in a College-Based Health Program

“…This communication divide may result in a community population that does not understand the value of the program and therefore small, if any, program dissemination occurs at the community level (10,11). In the dissemination realm, science communication is "a matter of transmitting information about science from scientific experts to the public (12). "…”

Fighting fake science: The key role of scientists

“…Naučno obrazovanje u školama svakako pruža osnovu za razumevanje naučnih rezultata i koncepcija, pri čemu je poboljšanje sposobnosti za kritičko mišljenje i analizu dodatni cilj da bi omladina stekla veštinu da proceni informaciju i njenu verodostojnost [2]. Ipak, i šira javnost treba da bude konstantno uključena u razumljivu naučnu komunikaciju uz glavni cilj povećanje poverenja u nauku, u epistemološkom i moralnom smislu, i razvoj društvenog prihvatanja [12]. Model društvenog uključivanja u naučna istraživanja izgleda naročito atraktivan za povećanje naučne pismenosti i, moguće, i sposobnosti za kritičko mišljenje [12].…”

“…Ipak, i šira javnost treba da bude konstantno uključena u razumljivu naučnu komunikaciju uz glavni cilj povećanje poverenja u nauku, u epistemološkom i moralnom smislu, i razvoj društvenog prihvatanja [12]. Model društvenog uključivanja u naučna istraživanja izgleda naročito atraktivan za povećanje naučne pismenosti i, moguće, i sposobnosti za kritičko mišljenje [12]. Na primer projekti "stanovnici u nauci" (engl.…”

“…Scientific education in schools certainly provides a basis for understanding scientific results and concepts with the further aim on enhancing abilities for critical thinking and analysis in order to equip youth with skills to evaluate information and its veracity [2]. Still, the broader public should continuously be engaged with meaningful science communication with the main goal of improving the population's confidence in science, and development of social acceptance and epistemic and moral trust [12]. With regard to increasing scientific literacy and possibly abilities for critical analysis, the model of public participation seems particularly attractive [12].…”

“…Still, the broader public should continuously be engaged with meaningful science communication with the main goal of improving the population's confidence in science, and development of social acceptance and epistemic and moral trust [12]. With regard to increasing scientific literacy and possibly abilities for critical analysis, the model of public participation seems particularly attractive [12]. For example, citizen science projects involve a large number of participants that together with professional scientists collect, submit or analyze large quantities of data and thus can lead to better understanding of science and the scientific research process and methodology [13].…”