scholarly journals More than "mountain guides" of science: a questionnaire survey of professional science communicators in Denmark

2010 ◽  
Vol 09 (02) ◽  
pp. A02
Author(s):  
Kristian Hvidtfelt Nielsen
Keyword(s):  
Questionnaire Survey ◽  
Science Communication ◽  
Science And Technology ◽  
Web Based ◽  
The Public ◽  
External Relations ◽  
Positive Statements ◽  
Professional Science ◽  
Deductive Science ◽  
Danish Science

This article sums up key results of a web-based questionnaire survey targeting the members of the Danish Science Journalists' Association. The association includes not only science journalists but also other types of science communicators. The survey shows that science communicators have a nuanced and multidimensional view on science communication, science, and technology. Science communicators are thus more than the "mountain guides" of science, as a recent definition describes it. The survey respondents are not just interested in helping the public at large to a wider recognition of scientific knowledge, but also want to contribute to democratic debate and social legitimisation of science and technology. The respondents exhibit a certain amount of optimism in relation to science and technology, yet also take a sceptical stance when confronted with overly positive statements regarding science and technology. Finally they have a predominantly social constructivist perception of science and technology when it comes to external relations to society, while they lean towards a hypothetical-deductive science understanding when it concerns the internal dynamics of science

scholarly journals Showrooms as a Window to Science Based Innovation

2015 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-26
Author(s):  
Michael Boronowsky ◽  
Tanja Woronowicz ◽  
Peter Hoffmann ◽  
Sangin Boboev
Keyword(s):  
Science Communication ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Innovation Capability ◽  
Scientific Concepts ◽  
The Public ◽  
Technological Developments ◽  
New Ideas ◽  
Professional Science ◽  
Scientific Results ◽  
Stakeholder Communication

Abstract Scientific results benefit from more tangible stakeholder communication. Showrooms are a tool to transform abstract scientific concepts into solution-oriented and less complex demonstrators. The basic idea of a showroom implies a smart expo and meeting place to demonstrate the latest technological developments in a comprehensive and interactive manner and to stimulate transfer of scientific results to practice. Presentation of new technologies can be an eye opener of what can already be done today. But it is just more than this as it can put discussion with interested stakeholders to a new level - allowing to think beyond this - paving the ground for innovation. This way a showroom stimulates very substantial discussion about future ideas with real involvement of industry and society. Involving the public via a showroom environment is also helpful for the diffusion of new ideas, leading to potential faster market take-up, when new solutions are put into reality. Furthermore the interaction with the public is a stimulus also for the scientist, raising a much better understanding about current and future needs. Capability is understood as a measure of the ability of an entity (organization, person, system) to achieve its objectives in relation to its overall mission professional science communication is part of the capability of, e.g., a university. Innovation capability in this sense refers to the ability of a set of regional stakeholders from academia, political authorities, public administrations and industry to innovate in synergy for economic and societal development – showrooms are an important tool to achieve this.

scholarly journals Does Controversial Science Call For Public Participation? The Case Of Gmo Skepticism

2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 26-50
Author(s):  
Andreas Christiansen ◽  
Karin Jonch-Clausen ◽  
Klemens Kappel
Keyword(s):  
Public Participation ◽  
Science Policy ◽  
Policy Making ◽  
Science Communication ◽  
Genetically Modified Organisms ◽  
Science And Technology ◽  
Democratic Legitimacy ◽  
The Public ◽  
Scientific Experts ◽  
Policy Making Process

Many instances of new and emerging science and technology are controversial. Although a number of people, including scientific experts, welcome these developments, a considerable skepticism exists among members of the public. The use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) is a case in point. In science policy and in science communication, it is widely assumed that such controversial science and technology require public participation in the policy-making process. We examine this view, which we call the Public Participation Paradigm, using the case of GMOs as an example. We suggest that a prominent reason behind the call for public participation is the belief that such participation is required for democratic legitimacy. We then show that the most prominent accounts of democratic legitimacy do not, in fact, entail that public participation is required in cases of controversial science in general, or in the case of GMOs in particular.

scholarly journals Public science communication in Africa: views and practices of academics at the National University of Science and Technology in Zimbabwe

2016 ◽  
Vol 15 (06) ◽  
pp. A05 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heather Ndlovu ◽  
Marina Joubert ◽  
Nelius Boshoff
Keyword(s):  
Science Communication ◽  
Science And Technology ◽  
Popular Media ◽  
Peer Communication ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Public Science ◽  
The Public ◽  
Science Engagement ◽  
National University ◽  
Funding Environment

This study of the science communication views and practices of African researchers ― academics at the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) in Zimbabwe ― reveals a bleak picture of the low status of public science engagement in the developing world. Researchers prioritise peer communication and pay little attention to the public, policy makers and popular media. Most scientists believe the public is largely not scientifically literate or interested in research. An unstable funding environment, a lack of communication incentives and censoring of politically sensitive findings further constrain researchers' interest in public engagement. Most NUST academics, however, are interested in science communication training. We suggest interventions that could revive and support public science engagement at African universities.

scholarly journals The price of trust — a response to Weingart and Guenther

2016 ◽  
Vol 15 (06) ◽  
pp. Y01 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane Gregory
Keyword(s):  
Public Relations ◽  
Science Communication ◽  
Historical Period ◽  
Scientific Culture ◽  
The Public ◽  
Professional Science ◽  
Innovation Economy

In response to Weingart and Guenther [2016], this essay explores the issue of trust in science communication by situating it in a wider communications culture and a longer historical period. It argues that the popular scientific culture is a necessary context not only for professional science, but also for the innovation economy. Given that the neutrality of science is a myth, and that science communication is much like any other form of communication, we should not be surprised if, in an innovation economy, science communication has come to resemble public relations, both for science and for science-based innovations. The public can be sceptical of PR, and may mistrust science communication for this reason.

scholarly journals A dialogue on hard sciences is possible. Is it useful too?

2008 ◽  
Vol 07 (01) ◽  
pp. C06
Author(s):  
Stefano Sandrelli
Keyword(s):  
Science Communication ◽  
Science And Technology ◽  
The Public ◽  
Contemporary Science ◽  
Models In Science

Dialogical models in science communication produce effective and satisfactory experiences, also when hard sciences (like astrophysics or cosmology) are concerned. But those efforts to reach the public can be of modest impact since the public is no longer (or not sufficiently) interested in science. The reason of this lack of interest is not that science is an alien topic, but that contemporary science and technology have ceased to offer a convincing model for the human progress.

Identifying and Testing Engagement and Public Literacy Indicators for River Health

2009 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 241-267 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jenni Metcalfe ◽  
Michelle Riedlinger
Keyword(s):  
Science Communication ◽  
Survey Design ◽  
Social Indicators ◽  
Health Behaviours ◽  
Social Condition ◽  
River Health ◽  
Web Based ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Social ◽  
Victorian Department

Natural resource management (NRM) organisations in Australia are increasingly recognising the need for complement studies of biophysical condition of the environment with studies of social condition, such as values, understanding, and participation related to the environment. Relevant and reliable social indicators that can be scaled and measured on a regular basis are essential to meet this need. In this study, we identified four indicators to test the social condition of the public in the State of Victoria in Australia with regard to river health. These indicators were river use, river knowledge and literacy, values and aspirations, and river health behaviours. We tested the four indicators through telephone and web-based surveys with over 1000 people in three areas of Victoria. We analysed the survey data statistically and gathered baseline data on the social condition of river health in the three regions. We made recommendations for how this data could be interpreted and used in community engagement and science communication programmes about river health. We also examined the limitations of the methodology and recommended modifications to the survey design and application for an anticipated roll-out of the survey across the entire State of Victoria. The Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) will use this survey instrument to test social indicators on a regular basis.

scholarly journals Bringing back the debate on mediated and unmediated science communication: the public's perspective

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (03) ◽  
pp. A10
Author(s):  
Ana Delicado ◽  
Jussara Rowland ◽  
João Estevens
Keyword(s):  
Science Communication ◽  
Public Consultation ◽  
Scholarly Research ◽  
The Public ◽  
Clear Preference ◽  
Multiple Factors ◽  
Perceptions And Attitudes ◽  
Professional Science

When analysing the actors of the science communication ecosystem, scholarly research has focused on the perceptions and attitudes of scientists, science journalists, and science communicators. How the public envisages the roles of science producers and mediators is mostly uncharted territory. We address this gap, by examining the results of a public consultation in Portugal concerning science communication. We show that the public demonstrates a clear preference for science communication performed by scientists, over journalists, although credibility and trust depend on multiple factors. We also ascertain that professional science communicators are mostly invisible, though the public recognises the value of `translators'.

Drivers’ Attitudes, Understanding, and Acceptance of Passing Lanes in Kansas

1998 ◽  
Vol 1628 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Madaniyo I. Mutabazi ◽  
Eugene R. Russell ◽  
Robert W. Stokes
Keyword(s):  
Questionnaire Survey ◽  
Project Evaluation ◽  
Department Of Transportation ◽  
Local Conditions ◽  
Improvement Project ◽  
The Public ◽  
Pavement Markings ◽  
Design Practices ◽  
Comprehensive Study ◽  
Just Right

Traditionally, highway improvement project evaluation is done without incorporating highway users’ views. The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) wants drivers to be satisfied and have “good feelings” about its passing lanes program. KDOT needs input to decide whether passing lanes are efficient, safe, and acceptable to the public. Drivers’ views were solicited via a questionnaire survey which was part of a comprehensive study on passing lanes in Kansas. Generally, drivers support the passing lane program and suggest construction of more passing lanes. Drivers think that passing lanes are more beneficial for improving safety than for saving time. They are equally divided on the length of passing lanes between “too short” and “just right,” although the provided lengths are within the recommended optimum lengths found in the literature. The “too short” responses could be due to existing passing lane spacings, preference of four-lane highways over two-lane highways, and difference in local conditions from those used to determine lengths. Drivers cited fellow drivers’ failure to follow signs and markings properly, and failure to use the lanes properly; this seems to indicate that improvements in signing and pavement markings should be considered. A smaller proportion of drivers, satisfied with a lower frequency of local travel on a route closer to the state’s borders (i.e., more unfamiliar drivers), suggests the importance of standardizing highway operating and design practices throughout the country.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document