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Pages 1-10

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From page 1...
... Fortunately, an expanding science base from diverse disciplines can support science communicators in making these determinations. The purpose of this report is to offer a research agenda for science communicators and researchers seeking to apply this research and fill gaps in knowledge about how to communicate effectively about science, with a particular focus on issues that are contentious in the public sphere.
From page 2...
... Aligning Goals with the Right Communication Approach The most effective approach for communicating science will depend on the communicator's goal. The committee identified five such goals for communicating science, each of which places quite different demands on the knowledge and skills of science communicators and their audiences and calls for its own distinct approach: • Simply to share the findings and excitement of science.
From page 3...
... One important ethical question is how far science communicators should go beyond simply communicating scientific facts and theories in an effort to influence decisions. Individual science communicators have differing perspectives on their roles as advo 1  The term "scientific information" is used throughout this report to denote knowledge from science and how it is produced.
From page 4...
... The focus of this report is on science communication that conveys scientific information and helps people assess how that information may apply to a particular situation. In exploring these topics, the report draws on research on other types of communication, such as public health campaigns, that may be designed to persuade people to change their behaviors but may or may not include underlying scientific information.
From page 5...
... Think tanks, scientific associations, evidence-based clearinghouses, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations all play an organized role in interpreting scientific information for use by policy makers, the media, and the broader public. Research is needed on the conditions for success -- such as affecting the quality or outcomes of policy discussions -- in the efforts of diverse types of organizations to communicate science.
From page 6...
... • The best strategies for communicating science about contentious social issues if there is distrust of the science or of the scientific community need to be investigated. • Commonly considered best practices in public engagement sug gest the importance of engaging with those concerned with an issue early on, but research is needed to determine to what extent and in what ways communicating science during public engage ment processes can be effective once an issue has already become controversial.
From page 7...
... More needs to be known in particular about the following: • How can accurate information about the state of the science be heard among many competing messages and sources of information? • How can science communicators reach audiences that face barriers to accessing and using scientific information, such as those with lower levels of education and income or those with strongly held views?
From page 8...
... Use of a Systems Approach to Guide the Research Science communication occurs in a complex context whose elements include the content to be communicated, the communicator, the audience, the channels of communication, the other diverse organizations and individuals that are also communicating science, and the many other sources from which audiences may obtain additional and perhaps conflicting or inaccurate information about science. Moreover, people's understandings and opinions about science in general and its relevance to specific issues change over time.
From page 9...
... The Importance of Building a Coherent Science Communication Research Enterprise To achieve real progress in understanding what makes for effective science communication, it will be necessary to direct particular attention to four key aspects of a coherent science communication research enterprise. First, researchers and practitioners of science communication need to form partnerships to translate what is learned through research into practice and to develop detailed research agendas for testing hypotheses about how to communicate science that are realistic and pragmatic.
From page 10...
... Science communication researchers at all career levels may need additional training to carry out the research agenda proposed in this report, or may need to be encouraged to work in teams that include partners with the necessary expertise. Fourth, having mechanisms for the rapid review and funding of certain science communication research is important.


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