1Introduction
What is science communication?
1.Science affects our everyday lives, not least when science influences (or should influence) how Government makes policy. Dr Karen Bultitude of University College London identified four key motivations for communicating science:
- A utilitarian imperative—giving people technical skills and knowledge that will be useful in their wider lives;
- An economic imperative—advanced societies require a technologically skilled workforce and science adds to the output of a country;
- The cultural imperative—science represents “shared heritage”; and
- The democratic imperative—science affects most major decisions in society, so it is important that the public are able to interpret basic scientific information.1
2.Imperial College defined science communication as:
An umbrella term covering a wide variety of activities, including, professional communication by scientists; interactions between scientists and members of the public; the media representation of science; and the ways people use scientific knowledge in their own lives.2
3.The Lords Science & Technology Committee in its Science and Society report in 2000 recommended a move away from presumptions about the public’s lack of scientific knowledge, towards an emphasis on dialogue and engagement.3 Our predecessor Committee examined in 2013 the public’s understanding of the science on climate change, including where people look for science information and how that influences climate change policy. Despite national policies to address climate change, the Committee found little evidence of coordination amongst the Government and its agencies on communicating climate change science.4
4.In 2012, the former Department for Business Innovation & Skills (BIS) concluded from its Science and Society Programme that “public engagement with science in general is gaining momentum but the current audience is largely already interested in science. This means that there is a collective need to do more to take science to those not currently engaged.”5 As a result, the then Science Minister, David Willetts, launched a Charter for Science and Society in March 2014, which included a call for science organisations to “focus on [ … ] target new audiences, embrace diversity and inclusivity, be sensitive to audience needs and perspectives, and engage with others where they naturally congregate”.6
Our inquiry
5.In our inquiry we examined the current state of science communication and engagement; how Government, scientists, the media and others facilitate public awareness of and engagement in science; and the barriers that need to be overcome. We received 121 written submissions and took oral evidence from 18 witnesses including academics working in the field of science communication as well as representatives from research organisations and the media. In addition to our call for evidence, we worked with the Parliament Outreach team in targeting a wider audience. A questionnaire was designed based on the terms of our call for evidence, which was sent to members of the public to seek their views on the portrayal, influence and importance of science. In our inquiry, we also examined the National Environment Research Council’s ‘Name Our Ship’ campaign and took some of our oral evidence at the Natural History Museum in London. We would like to thank them, and everyone who contributed to our inquiry.
6.In Chapter 2 we examine science awareness and communication. In Chapter 3 we look at science and policy making.
1 Bultitude, K, The Why and How of Science Communication (2011)
3 House of Lords Science & Technology Committee, Science and Society, Third Report, Session 1999–2000
4 House of Commons Science & Technology, Communicating Climate Science, Eight Report, Session 2013–14, HC 254
5 Department for Business, Innovation & Skills, Review of BIS Science and Society Programme, 2012–13
6 Department for Business, Innovation & Skills, UK Charter for Science and Society (March 2014)
24 March 2017