The Daily Telegraph has a pertinent article on page 22 today.
"How to make science lovable: scientists have been attacked for being too
remote. Adman Brian Millar explains how they can win back public support "
PR guru Brian Millar argues that:
* scientists should beware of glossy ad campaigns - scientists aren't a
brand to be packaged and given a superficial makeover
* the science voices we hear tend to be senior academics or PR Flacks
* ordinary scientists don't get out to talk the public enough
* today, markets are conversations
* so scientists must engage in conversations with their publics
* he pays homage to the scientist speaking in the pub (public understanding
bunker) after a few beers
* the public needs insight from "somebody who's like [them]" but who can
pronounce "spongiform encephalopathy"
* the answer to all these problems is to set up conversations on the
Internet.
I was with him until that last point. But the article is well worth a read
and very pertinent to our debates about moving from "communicating at the
public" to "dialogue with our society."
Andy Boddington
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