Science of science communication

Science of science communication Brian Trench Dublin City University

The Science of Science Communication • Colloquium hosted by US National Academies of Science, Washington, May 2012 • This colloquium will survey the state of the art of empirical social science research in science communication and will focus on research in psychology, decision science, mass communication, risk communication, health communication, political science, sociology, and related fields on the communication dynamics surrounding issues in science, engineering, technology, and medicine with five distinct goals: • To improve understanding of relations between the scientific community and the public • To assess the scientific basis for effective communication about science • To strengthen ties among and between communication scientists • To promote greater integration of the disciplines and approaches pertaining to effective communication • To foster an institutional commitment to evidence-based communication science • See programme and archived webcasts at http://www.nasonline.org/programs/sackler-colloquia/upcoming-colloquia/science-communication.html

Psychology Communication Philosophy Ethics Rhetoric Mass communication / media Sociology Linguistics History Science communication Political Economy Policy Studies

Science education Science communication Life sciences Risk communication Social Studies of Science Physical sciences History of Science Health promotion Philosophy and Ethics of science Environmental sciences

Status of science communication • Hybrid status as both interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary (Priest 2010) • Not a full discipline [and this] “allows science communicators to plunder all disciplines and fields of study to conduct their work most effectively” (Gascoigne et al 2010) • Emerging discipline with some recognised criteria of a discipline but still weak in theoretical development and definition of its boundaries (Trench and Bucchi 2010)

Complex root system Cross-disciplinary migration of champions Short training courses for professional scientists Science writing within communication programmes Writing and presentation modules for science students Training for science museums, shows, outreach Science writing postgraduate programmes

Programme content from four fields Science (usually biology) Education studies (also museum studies) Social studies of science (incl. history, philosophy) Communication theory and skills

Challenges to programmes Not seen as core business and therefore vulnerable to cutbacks (Netherlands, Italy) Reduced practical content through relocation to another department (Mexico) Continuing need to explain or justify science communication and science communication research in a natural sciences setting (UK, Netherlands)

Opportunities for programmes Improved protection through relocation from a natural sciences to a humanities department (France) Demand for courses in science communication for other programmes (Spain, UK) External support from institutions promoting science-in-society initiatives (Spain) Internal support from unit promoting science-in-society initiatives (France)

“I’m not sure the scientists understand completely what we do and they could have some problems with some of it. We are in a strange balance. They understand that we are useful. It depends on different boundary conditions: we could become a kind of outreach department or a research department, though this is less likely. Mostly, the scientists in our institute have in mind a popularisation model for science communication.” Nico Pitrelli, SISSA, Italy

“We were very fragile when we depended directly on science departments but our relocation to Humanities seems to protect us. Our Masters is really a professional Masters and the departments in Humanities don’t have many professionally oriented programmes. The literary people welcome us because of the professional dimension to our education.” Baudouin Jurdant, University of Paris 7

SCI-COMM RESEARCH ARTICLES, 2000-2009(n=1,237) More than twice as many articles published 2005-2009 as 2000-2004

TOP10 JOURNALSfor SCI COMM RESEARCH, 2000-2009 Tpp 10 journals accounted for 518 of 1,237 papers (42%)

RESEARCH METHODSIN ARTICLES, 2000-2009

SELECTED TOPICS IN SCIENCE COMMUNICATION RESEARCH

Science comm PhD theses 2000-2010 • Data gathered for 57 theses • > 50% in UK/Australia/USA • > 50% focused on context of science or medicine • media/journalism > means of communication > engagement and dialogue > role of scientists > role of stakeholders > evaluation • Top 4: media content analysis, survey, interview and case study • No clear shared research aims • Multiple theories employed • Multiple contributions to practical field

Topics of current PhD projects sc. theories/application in practice sc. theories/deliberative democracy concept of interactional expertise corporate theory strategic sc/climate change strategic sc/changing university professionalization in SC public health program laboratory access/teachers and pupils scientist cancer prevention high school teachers cultural knowledge/western science education dialogue/responsiveness science benefits field trip/guest speaker expertise citizenship stakeholder int. learning/school trip engagement/dialogue values/sc among prof. science com. stakeholder/sustainable dev. evaluation theory/science education stakeholder/sus. bioproducts nanotech./civil society science/public/citizenship informal science / visual interpretation evaluation citizen antibiotic resistance/risk reduction television/scientific citizenship engagement/cyberscience ecological art /pus of marine biology media/means art authentic museum objects/visitors popular culture/’a brief history of time’ museum scientist online involvement/journalism interaction visitors/scientists climate change Australian newspapers culture based sc-training math. info in Portuguese press festivals public/museum governance pop. science books mathematics multimedia/com. / edu. potential effective strategy/organize framing / pet fish owners media influence/bone marrow donation

Methods of current PhD projects • questionnaires/interviews • content analysis • incl. discourse analysis • participant observation • eye-tracking • case study • participatory design • literature / document analysis

Current PhD research projects (extract)

4 stages of scientific development • Stage 1: new objects and phenomena • scientists are pioneers, not afraid to make mistakes, have difficulties with peer review, do not always possess excellent technical skills • Stage 2: develop methods and techniques • scientists validate techniques, develop a specific language, are ingenious and inventive, able to implement ideas • Stage 3: production of specific knowledge: highest number of original publications • Scientists are resistant to first-stage propositions • Stage 4: maintain and pass on scientific knowledge generated in phase 1 to 3  crucial revisions of the domain • scientists write reviews and textbooks presenting overview of the discipline (Shneider, Trends in Biochemical Sciences, 2009)

How much do practitioners care? Survey of those attending BAAS Science Communication conference 2007 (N=124) (87% science graduates; 54% professional science communicators; 69% female; 73% <40-y-o) • 42% read PUS and 36% SC occasionally • 55% never read PUS or SC • Miller, in Cheng et al, Science Communication in Social Contexts (2008)

Uses of scientific research • To classify objects • To explain observed behaviour • causation; correlation; models • To clarify concepts • To aid prediction • If this, then that … • To aid planning, strategy

Science of science communication