Science communication-an emerging discipline

Science Communication in the World – practices, theories and trends, 241-257, 2012

Over nearly three decades, science communication has become established as a subject of teaching and research in universities across the world. Its standing as an academic discipline continues to be debated, but graduate degree programmes and doctoral research in the field are increasing. Partly reflecting its inherent multi-and interdisciplinary content, science communication is embedded in different institutions in different ways. These developments have been driven mainly by individual champions, but in some cases also by institutional and government policies. The diversity of science communication programmes reflects in part the various histories and institutional affiliations of the programmes. The diversity can be seen as a sign of the subject's vitality but it is also a condition of its vulnerability. Many science communication teaching programmes have given rise to consultancies, applied research, publishing and, perhaps most notably, doctoral research, but information from the promoters of science communication programmes indicates that some programmes are particularly exposed to the rationalisation affecting higher education institutions in many countries. Science communication's position between and across disciplines and departments may mean it is not always well equipped to defend itself just when its need is most apparent.

This article deals with the transformation of the familiar, linear scientific information chain into an interactive scientific communication “network” in response to concomitant changes in scientific research and education. Societal conditions are seen to lead worldwide to the concept of strategic research: research dominated by "economy of scope". Strategic research leads to transnational research enterprises - universities and other research institutions - with a focus on return of research capital investment, and thus on intellectual capital. This development calls for new ways of knowledge management that in turn has consequences for scientific communication. The scientific communication market is described in terms of four main forces and their interplay. These forces are the actors (the author/reader pair), accessibility, content, and applicability. Scientific communication is described in terms of its four functions: registration, awareness, certification and archiv...

Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, 2009

which forms part of the Open University course SH804 Communicating science in the information age. Investigating science communication in the information age (ISBN 978 0199552665) is published by Oxford University Press, Great Clarendon Street, Oxford OX2 6DP in association with The

Journal of Science Communication

The article proposes a reflection on science communication and on the communicative processes characteristic to the production of new-found knowledge. It aims to outline the role that sociology can play within this frame for greater understanding. The article first defines the main evolutionary trends in scientific research in recent decades, with particular reference to the emergence of new social actors. Following on from this, it will look at some of the epistemological conditions that may strengthen the sociologist's role in the cognition of scientific production. Using this as a premise, we will look at a typology for science communication and its components, as well as some of its governing principles. The conclusion of the article indicates the added value that can be gained from the use of such a model, with the particular aim of identifying indicators that allow the evaluation of scientific research in sociological terms as well as those already in existence.

Communicating Science: A Global Perspective, 2020

Denmark, Norway and Sweden all have a rich history of science communication. Popularisation efforts by the scientific community have co-existed and co-developed with efforts to make science communication useful for the purposes of democracy, education, farming, environmental protection, industrial development, public health, social welfare and more. One of the challenges faced in all three countries is how to match the demands of the academic community, particularly attuned to specialist, technical communication, with the demands of society (including most academics), hoping to share, make useful and critically discuss the fruits of research. The enactment of the third mission for all public universities serves as a modern example of such a match, but also shows the difficulties involved. There are many similarities across the three countries covered in this chapter, such as an ongoing emphasis on the role of science communication in enforcing citizenship, public deliberation and social responsibility, but also many differences. The making of modern science communication in Scandinavia also testifies to the fact that Denmark, Norway and Sweden are—and always have been—firmly embedded in international developments.

Journal of Science Communication, 2021

In this essay the authors reflect on some recent trends in science communication research, celebrating it as an inherently interdisciplinary endeavour. Some current tendencies in science communication are more limiting, however: they present theoretical and strategic prescriptions that do not adquately reflect the variety and cultural diversity of science communication internationally. Rethinking science communication in the context of such diverse practices and cultural reorientations, the authors revise some of their own views and revisit notions of communication as conversation to propose an inclusive definition of science communication as the social conversation around science.

2012

We live in a world where nearly every aspect of our lives is infused with science and technology. Science and technology provides us the solutions to fight illness, pollution and hunger, besides providing better communication and transportation. However, despite the proven achievements of science and technology and future potentials, the public's faith in science has been declining for years. Enrolment in science courses has remained stagnant or has been declining for the past several years. One of the factors responsible for this state of affairs is the way science is practiced. As an institution it has failed to keep pace with the needs and expectations of society to do a better job of communicating. Science communication generally refers to public communication of science and technology (PCST), presenting science-related topics to non-experts. This often involves professional scientists, but has also evolved into a professional field in its own right. PCST includes science

These papers were received in response to a call to all presenters to submit papers up to three months after the conference. Except where indicated otherwise in the table of contents, these papers were presented either to parallel sessions of individual papers or to pre-arranged panel sessions.

2020

This study provides both an empirical analysis of strengths and weaknesses of research in the field of Science Communication, and a reflection on its future needs and perspectives. <br> This study of Science Communication Research (SCR) triangulates a bibliometric and content analysis of approx. 3,000 journal papers with a multi-stage panel study and a review of grey literature spanning four decades. Quantitative findings from the journal analysis (e.g. about disciplinary contexts or topics, research methods, data analysis techniques used) were considered by a panel of 36 science communication researchers in a multi-stage series of qualitative interviews. These experts represent the international and disciplinary diversity of the research field, including past and present editors of the most relevant journals of science communication, and the majority of the most often cited science communication scholars.<br> Previous approaches to systematically investigate the researc...

2009

Investigating Science Communication in the Information Age is a collection of newly-commissioned chapters by leading science communication scholars. It addresses current theoretical, practical and policy developments in science communication, including recent calls for greater ...