Continue reading this article to know the scope, limits, and future of Science Communication.

Going Beyond the Academe

Many of us will probably recall that the last time we communicated science was during a class report or a thesis defense. While those might be the most memorable instances, the scope of Science Communication goes beyond that. Science Communication is not and should not be confined to the classroom. 

We engage in Science Communication more than we think we do. Those times when we had to explain how something works; those times when we had to give medical advice to a friend or family; or those times when we shared something that began with the line “According to research…” are all forms of Science Communication.

Recognizing that Science Communication is part of our daily lives is crucial in maintaining the quality of information around us. Science warrants accurate and precise information. Failing to recognize and understand the science of what we share can lead to the catastrophic spread of disinformation and misinformation.

Science Expert vs Science Communicator

Now that we know Science Communication is potentially everywhere, we might start asking the following questions. Am I qualified to share this piece of scientific information? Should I believe what this person is saying? What makes a Science Communicator?

With so much to consider, it might seem that it is much better to leave everything up to the experts. While relying on experts and scientists – as we all should – may be the best approach, it might not be the most practical all the time. Another reality is that not all science experts are expert Science Communicators.

At some point in our academic journey, most of us probably encountered that one tenured professor who is just horrible at teaching. Make no mistake – hands down to all their accolades and scientific contributions. But they probably played a single role in our life – to make us realize that teaching (and communicating) is an art.

Hence, you don’t necessarily need to be a science expert to become an effective Science Communicator. A vast pool of scientific knowledge and even a degree may surely help. But even so, there is more to being a Science Communicator than what diplomas can represent.

To answer who is qualified to communicate science, we should go back to how science works. Scientific discoveries rely on the scientific method to create replicable and reliable results. Results from the scientific method then serve as evidence for establishing scientific facts.

As potential audiences or Science Communicators, we should follow suit. We need to ensure that the information we receive and share can be traced back to the evidence that supports it. When in doubt, we should rely on and believe our scientists and experts who did the research.

Eventually, we should also be able to accept we were wrong when better science with stronger evidence comes around. An article by Oreskes explains how science doesn’t supply us with absolute truths but brings us steadily closer.

Moving forward with Science Communication

Moving forward, we will create more and more scientific discoveries. The pool of scientific knowledge will continue to expand. New scientific findings aren’t getting simpler and may disprove what we already know.

Fortunately, we have a growing number of scientists and experts worldwide. They are the ones who are directly involved in making discoveries and understanding the science behind them. What we are going to need are more Science Communicators who will continue to make science accessible and understandable for the general public. 

Although many of us will most likely benefit from scientific and technological advances, not everyone will understand the science behind them. Scientific misunderstanding can create friction among people. Worst-case scenario, the science that was supposed to help humanity may end up getting rejected.

Science Communication will certainly play a crucial role as we move forward in this Age of Information.