FOSSILIA - Reports in Palaeontology

Science and society: let’s stay in touch

 

Andrea Bersani

Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Genova, Via Dodecaneso 33, 16146 Genova, Italy

 

How to cite: Bersani (2018). Science and society: let’s stay in touch. Fossilia, Volume 2018: 1-2. https://doi.org/10.32774/FosRepPal.20.1810.S10102

Bullet-Points Abstract
  • Science and society have a very strong link and we, as scientists, should consider how to improve our communication and dissemination skills to implement a positive feedback;
  • New internet-based media provide an unprecedented opportunity to be give a significant contribution for all the scientists never involved in traditional communication;
  • The public is variegated and unpredictable, but interested and curious: we can reach (and satisfy) a large audience with a relatively small effort
  • The experience of Scientificast, Italian blog and podcast, is a successful example of new media exploitation for science communication, with thousands of people involved for each post or episode;
  • We identified as keys for our success the involvement of young, motivated scientists with a well-defined target and style, a format that can be replicated, modified and improved by other groups.

Keywords: Science Communication; Podcast; Blog; New Media.

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The science communication ecosystem

 

Alessandro Tavecchio

Master in Science Communication - Interdisciplinary Laboratory For Advanced Studies (ILAS) - International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA) via Bonomea 265, 34136 Trieste TS; atavecch@sissa.it

 

How to cite: Tavecchio (2018). The science communication ecosystem. Fossilia, Volume 2018: 3-5.  https://doi.org/10.32774/FosRepPal.20.1810.S20305

Bullet-Points Abstract

  • The credibility of science as an institution is itself dependent on the credibility of science communication.
  • Science communication is best understood as an ecosystem, with many stakeholders and forces interacting and contributing to the construction of shared meanings about science and scientists
  • The current science communication ecosystem is characterized by the loss of trusted gatekeepers and by the blurring between different genres of communication (especially self-promotion, advertising and informational content).
  • There is very little to no correlation between lay public knowledge about science and attitudes towards science; trust is very often the critical factor. 

Keywords: Science popularization; society; credibility; communication ecosystem.

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Cited References