Science and democracy II Aims and bias in science communication

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Science and democracy IIAims and bias in
science communication
Napoli, 12-14 giugno 2003

• Adriana Valente
• CNR-IRPPS
• Via dei Taurini, 19 - Roma
• a.valente_at_irpps.cnr.it

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Public understanding of science - meanings
Science popularization divulgation
Understanding of science literacy
Participation - decision making Riflexivity-
pluridirectional communication
Science perception awareness
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Public understanding of science - dimensions
Cultural Rapporto Bodmer, 1985 Science
discoveries profundly influence the way we
think about ourselves
Democratic Rapporto Bodmer, 1985 Public opinion
is a major influence in the decision-making
process. It is therefore important that
individual citizens, As decision-makers,
recognise and understand the scientific aspects
of the public issues
Economic RapportoWolfendale, 1995 Young people
in scientific careers

Instrumental A certain praxis Looking for
suppoprt, pretending democracy
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Italian government guidelines 2002 The society
should support further investments for researach
only if is able to verify the potential outcomes
in terms of new chances for social and
productive development. Must be an incentive to
innovate and qualificate products A dialectic
relationship between who produces and who
consumes must be established
Eurobarometer 55.2 Even if it does not yeld
immediate benefits, scientific research helps
knowledge to progress and is necessary and ought
to be supported by the government (75 inclined
to agree)
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Public understanding of science Initiatives
close to Public Participation Models
Referendum Public hearings cicli di
presentazioni Public opinion surveys - Sondaggi
dopinione Negotiated rule making - Commissioni
di lavoro integrate Consensus conferences
gruppi rappresentativi Citizen panel tra
gruppi rappresentativi di una realtà
locale Citizen committee piccoli gruppi
sponsor - interazione con industrie Focus group
piccoli gruppi con discussione libera- peer
conversation
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Science became too big to be understood by the
general public
Higher understanding Much support to science
and technology activities
The general public is illiterate and must be
educated
deficit model
Scientific literacy as a prerequisite for
democratic participation or an informed public
tend to be more supportive
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• Limits of public opinion surveys
• Not clear to realise why a certain answer has
  been given
• No possible to understand small groups or active
  minorities
• points of view
• No interaction
• Risk of stereotyping

• Blunt instruments for exploring the range of
  attitudes toward
• public policy in a complex society
• May be used to construct public opinion in a way
  that
• legitimates the commercialisation of ST
  applications without
• necessarily enabling effective public debate
• Oriented toward consumers rather than citizenship
  concerns
• Constrain, rather than open up, public discourse
  on the range
• of important issuesraised by ST

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British-US surveys on Public understanding of
science
Centered on Misures of interest and
informedness about S T (repeated in nowadays
surveys eg interest in sport, politics, medical
discoveries, films, invention and technologies,
scientific discoveries) Measures of understanding
of processes of scientific enquiry (eg what does
it mean to study something scientifically? Theory
construction, experimental method) Measures of
scientific knowledge (egnatural vitamins are
better for you than laboratory-made ones)
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Some questions inside biotechnology
Eurobarometers and other surveys in
biotechnology (eg Poster)
Ordinary tomatoes do not contain genes, while
genetically modified tomatoes do
If a person eats a genetically modified fruit,
their genes could be modified as a result
Genetically modified animals are always larger
than ordinary ones
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The engaged public of Europe Awareness,
behaviours, knowledge
Have talked about frequently or
occasionally Would take part in public discussion
or hearing Would watch a tv programme or read an
article Number of applications heard Number of
correct answert o knowledge quiz
Male, better educated, white collar workers,
urban dwellers, younger than 55
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The integrated public of Europe
More supportive Those with higher engagement are
more likely to judge applications be useful,
morally acceptable and to agree that they should
be encouraged
The judgment of risk is only marginally
influenced by the level of engagement - For the
engaged people the risks are apparent, but in
the context of perceptions of greater usefulness
and moral acceptability, such risks are
tollerated
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Other questions related to european interest in
ST
I become confused when I hear conflicting views
of science and technology
I dont know what to think when I hear new
stories about what we should and should not eat
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Public understanding of science - project Cnr -
British Council
mixed discussion groups conference and public
debate
Research objectives
Aims for the groups involved
Allow groups to have an active role during the
conference Foster group debate, reflextion on
science values, interest for the
particular scientific subject Ogm, Elettrosmog
Verify science perception Verify the
extensibility of questionnaires based on the
qualitative aspectsof science values
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Three items on the sociopolitical embeddedness of
science 1. The trustworthiness of science A.
nowadays it seems that anyone who has the money
required, may purchase research on nearly any
topic with the conclusion they want B. I am
confident that researchers and other experts do
not allow the resukts of theri research to be
influenced by outsiders 2. The precautionary
principle A. If it is uncertain what consequences
the use of new, unknown technologies will have
for humans and the environment, one should be
restrictive in permitting their use B. It is
wrong to put strong restrictions on the use of
new technology as long as it is not
scientifically proved that it will cause
extensive damage to humans and the environment
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3. Science in politics A. In politics, values
and attitudes are at least as important as
science B. Science is the best basis for policy
Speed of the scientific development A. I agree
with a slower development of the applications of
scientific and technological discoveries,
compensated by a wide reflection on the results
and verification of foreseeable risks B. I agree
with a faster development of the applications of
scientific and technological discoveries, not
being possible to act in the full awareness of
all possible risks
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• Conclusions
• Education
• School education - not only more science, but
  also which
• values are considered
• Extra curricula and lifelong learning - critical
  thinking
• Pus initiatives
• Different tools of Pus
• Not only surveys, also work with groups
• Science view
• Scientist is not an external observer
• Plurality of scientific theories and theories on
  science