>Practitioners and theorists - is this a call to arms - something to >the tune
of "my understanding is better than yours"?
>Why exactly do we try to make the science of communication, >sorry
science communication, simplistic? Perhaps we should be >spending more
time challenging - "but what do you mean?"
It was rather a good one wasn’t it? As I have got my stirring spoon out,
perhaps I could give another twist?
We have had PUS, PEST now how about POST?
Public ownership of science and technology.
I’m only a very small cog in the communication field, but can’t help feeling
that it is time that public fears over new technologies are listened to rather
than ‘educated out’. There is a thin line between science communication and
propaganda. You don’t need to know the exact science of, for example, stem
cell / genetic research to feel instinctively that there are philosophical and
ethical boundaries. The ‘trust us we are scientists’ line is still a major feature
of engagement and the dreaded dialogue. Should we now move to a listening
to the public regime and empowering them to make decisions for
themselves? We may not like the results and it may damage funding, but like
any ‘issue’ group our overall goal should be to become unnecessary.
Perhaps this is an over simplistic personal rant, in a way I hope it is, but if
there is anything useful in it, please feel free to play.
Thanks,
Phil.
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