Title: Pietro Greco
1- Science communication
- and society
- Pietro Greco
-
- Bagnoli
- September 4, 2008
2SC, born of the linear models
- The origin of Science and Technology Studies
(STS) - 1972
- A Conference in London
- International Sociological Associations Research
Committee on Sociology of Science - British Sociological Association
- 1974
- A libro
- Richard Whitley,
- Social Processes of Scientific Development
- Routledge
- The development of scientific knowledge
- Its non a question to leave only philosophers
and historians - We may have (also) a sociological interpretation
3SC, born of the linear models
- The 60s are the years of conquest of space.
- The man is on the Moon.
- But 60s are also the years of
- Rachel Carson, Silent Spring.
- 68, the controversy on science neutrality.
- Club di Roma, The Limits of Growth
- In the other words, the 60s are the years of the
science criticism
- The 60s are also the years of inside and
outside science world public science
communication - Inside STS, public science communication appears
as the communication where science shows its best
and obtains a wide social acceptability.
4SC, born of the linear models
- The first actions of the STS actors and the idea
of a communication linear model between
scientists and general publics is developing just
in 60s and 70s.
- The researches generally are appointed to science
popularization (divulgazione). - And STS researchers think to have no study to do
in such dominion
5SC, born of the linear models
- The explicative model obtained from the general
studies on communication - is based on the
assertions - Scientists produce the pure scientific knowledge
- The scientific knowledge must be communicated by
scientists in a simple way so that it appears
understandable and, so, acceptable to general
public.
- The general public is described as
- As a compact and undifferentiated whole of
unities - And confined in the role of essentially passive
user (receptor) of communication.
6SC, born of the linear models
- This model contains an intrinsic hierarchic
structure. - There is a scientific knowledge separated from
popular knowledge at a higher level because its
intrinsic form and unique rationality - In the model
- Scientific knowledge is characterized by an
intrinsic complexity, - Popular knowledge is characterized by an
intrinsic simplicity.
- So, in the science and society communication
- the flux of information is mono directional
- by producer to user.
- In this play, scientist is the only expert.
7SC, born of the linear models
- Effects
- Science communication is reduced to simple
translation - General public is the carrier of a knowledge
deficit - The gap can be partially exceeded
-
- The public refuses science because its knowledge
deficit - The alphabetization of public automatically
determine a higher social acceptability of
science. - And this is good thing
8The Amazon River Model
9SC, born of the linear models
- Although the model is already criticized in the
70s, STS are substantially accepted. - So we have researches about
- The degree of scientific rationality
- The institutional character of science,
- The need of a pocket of a basic scientific
knowledge - In other words they search for the best quality
of translation. - Nobody searches for implicit and symbolic
communication, i.e. images and metaphoric
languages. -
- Few researchers think that such a mono
directional communication produces two unwished
effects - Gives to general public the (not true) impression
that its possible to go in sancta sanctorum of
science by a very easy way -
- And, in the same time, it increases the distance
between scientists and not scientists.
10SC, born of the linear models
- But, already in the 70s, the linear model of SC
is criticized. - By environmentalists and feminists, i. e., the
generate new views of science and of relations
between science and society. - They call for alternative forms of knowledge in
the decision making processes - The neutrality of science and technology
expertise is criticized. - ST studies on scientific controversies and of
work in laboratory show how scientific
evidences are highly constructed. The analysis
of communication system (inside and outside
science) show that essence and meaning of
scientific knowledge are often negotiated.
11SC, born of the linear models
- These and others facts show that popularizing
science - Is not a simplified knowledge,
- But its a very complex building process of the
public image of science. - Daniel Jacobi e Bernard Schiele write what is
important is that - Is there a public science communication system,
- Not that the information is (must be) highly
correct.
12SC, born of the linear models
- On the contrary, many ST researchers think
- The popularizing science is (must be) a medium to
influence politics and society -
- Or (a finest idea), a medium to produce icons of
truth, to carry the non explicit and non
deliberative dimensions of science. - In any case as something that is widely dominated
and shaped by science
- But
- But in general public is increasing demand to
participate to technoscience governance
13SC, born of the linear models
- So its non surprising that now linear models (as
the Public Understanding of Science) are
definitively criticized also in STS environment.
- Empirical studies show that the deficit model
doesnt work - The social acceptability of science doesnt
necessarily increase in a more alphabetized
public. -
- Often it decrease
14Beyond the Top-down The contextual model
- The public is not a empty bottle
- Social and psychological determinants in science
perceptions - Recognize the contexts
- Sometimes there is a more sophisticated version
of top-down model - They say transmit information in more friendly
way
15Beyond the Top-down The participative model or
dialogue
- Public engagement
-
- Guidance for not expert publics
- More politics and more information
- Processes and non simple facts of science
- Attention for small groups of persons
- Attention to anti-scientific perception
16Search for new models, non linear
- Ulrike Felt, 2003
- We need a new model to
- Explaining and governance of processes of
globalization of knowledge. - Give to public science in a more wide conception
(Public Understanding of Science and Humanities) - To leave linear ideas
- Put science in a new agorà where are intercative
forces with a wide types of cultural exchanges
and creations of a context where wills, wishes,
inclinations, needs are expressed together with
precise questions. - A space where criticism and also controversies
are non only permitted, but also promoted.
17Toward a new model
- The Venezia (Venice) Model
18Science as a social institution
- By a sociological point of view science its
possible define science as a social institution
to build a rational opinion consensus in as wider
as possible field Ziman.
- Every scientific process can be formalized only
in two stadia - - the scientist that watch nature
-
- and
- - - scientist that communicates the results of
his observations.
19No sciencewithout communication
- Its impossible to make science without a process
with the two stadia - The private stadium of observation
- The public stadium of communication
- In other words, there is no
science without comunication.
20The whole of science communication
21Evolving science
- The scientific work is an evolving system
22Three main transitionsin the Republic of
Science
- 1600 -1800 gt dilettantistic era
- 1800 1945 gt academic era
- 1945 ? gt post-academic era
23The second transition
- After Second World War began a new transition
- Academic Science
- Post-Academic Science
24Post-Academic Science
- Changed the structure
- More resourses
- The research (basic, also) is the lever of the
economic development
- Bigger groups (Big Science)
- The State from Mecenate to buyer
25New resources
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27Three structural changes
- In the last 15 years
- Increase funding in RD
- From 300 to 1.100 billion of dollars
- Increase private funding
- Change ratio public/private
- From a bipolar to a multipolar world
- China and other asiatic tigers
- Science is no more a transatlantic play but more
and more an indopacific play
281. The world spends more
- 1.100 billions dollars a year in RD
Expense increases three times in the last 15 years
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312. A multipolar world
- In the last 15 years
- Increase funding in RD
- From 300 to 1.100 billion of dollars
- Increase private funding
- Change ratio public/private
- From a bipolar to a multipolar world
- China and other Asiatic tigers
- Science is no more a transatlantic play but more
and more an Indopacific play
322006China over Japan
33China
- Cina
- Investimenti RS 136 miliardi seconda
- Crescita investimenti RS 20
prima - Export hi-tech 12,5 seconda
34RD
- growth
- Usa 328 3,9
- Europe 240 4,8
- China 136 20,4
- Japan 129 4,5
- Germany 60 3,5
- Italy 19 0
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37Africa, is walking
- Africa Oceania
- 6 of global RS expenditure
- South Africa
- Nigeria
- Ruanda
383. Private Research
- In the last 15 years
- Increase funding in RD
- From 300 to 1.100 billion of dollars
- Increase private funding
- Change ratio public/private
- From a bipolar to a multipolar world
- China and other asiatic tigers
- Science is no more a transatlantic play but more
and more an indopacific play
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40New values (by Ziman)
41- New figures
- Craig Venter
- Scientist-manager
42The fall of Ivory Tower
- So, after World WAR II we have main change in
Republic of Science. - Particularly, the substantial separation between
science (academic science) and society, begins a
thick web of science in society and society in
science.
43Participation to choices
- In the new post-academic era,
- Scientists take relevant decisions for science
development - not in integral autonomy,
- but more and more
- in participation
- with a series of social groups (publics)
of
not-expert.
44A new role for SC
- In the post-academic era
- the
- public communication of science
- gets a new role
45SC in the post-academic era of science
- In the post-academic era of science the public
communication is no more an optional for
scientists and begins a professional necessity
46The post-academic scientist
- must
- (to know)
- communicate
- to public
- (to publics)
- of not-experts
- The public communication is an ineludible
complements of the research
47The relevant communication
48Science communicationand (is) democracy
- In the post-academic era of science
- The public of not-experts need
- science communication
- Because
- Increase social impact of science and technology
- Technoscience enters in daily life, at individual
and collective levels, of people - So, scientific information for general public
begins a primary need of democracy
49The PSC needsThe scientific citizenship
- This is the new
-
- public communication of science is a diffuse
social need -
- Expression of the right to scientific
citizenship
- In the new post-academic era of science the flux
of communication between scientific community and
society is more and more bidirectional. - Society, in its different dimensions, (politics,
economics, cultural), communicates its
needs to scientific community. - Take relevant choices.
50The scientific citizenship
- Four dimensions
- Cultural
- Social
- Political
- Economic
51Public communication of science
52Public communication of science
- No more tinsel, but relevant element for science
development - No more tinsel, but relevant element for
cultural, economic, social and political
development of whole society
53Crisis of linear model
- Public Understanding of Science (PUS)
- Out the science world is the public of
not-expert. - The public has a scientific knowledge deficit
- The more the public knows science, the more take
the scientific values and begins a friend of
science
- New Venice Model
- There are many and many publics of science
- Every public participates with its culture to
take relevant decisions for science - Every public in the normal dynamics of society is
carrying different but legitimate interests
54From Amazon River Model to Venice Model
55A complex modelThe archipelago of SC
- We can imagine the science public communication
system as an archipelago of social islands
connected by many and many different bridges
56The archipelago of SC
- with a bidirectional flux of
- information,
- cognitions,
- emotions,
- values,
- themata
- Relevant Islands
- Scientists
- Technicians
- Politicians
- Managers
- NGO
- Artists
- Mass Media
- General public
57Communication Communications
58Media All News
59MediaScience and technology
60Specific scientific issue
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62Arts disseminates science
- The Fuga in Egitto The galilean sky of Adam
Elsheimer
63Arts and science take The spirit of time
- Picasso, 1906/1907
- Damigelle dAvignone
- The end of concept of absolute space
- Einstein, 1905
64Arts inspire science
65Science and advertisingThe building of public
perception
66The image of Aids
67The Venice modeldifferent bridges between the
islands
68Venice, a complex systema
- The science communication is a complex social
system - Many elements
- Many connections
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70The complex and adaptive system of SC
71- An exemple
- The third stream
- or third mission
- of university
72The (possible) mission of a science meuseum
73The science museuma possible mission
- To build the scientific citizenship
- Political
- Cultural
- Economic
- Social networks with
- University
- School
- Society
74In the archipelago of SC
- In the archipelago of communication of science
- No absolute limits
- No absolute laws
- No absolute models
75Only a special difficulty
- science, specially mathematized science, uses a
language that is not a common language and
principally a logics far from common sense. - In science communication rules an indetermination
principle - ?R x ?C k
- R rigour
- C communicability
- k costant
76Every bridge a K
- Every bridge between islands in the archipelago
of science communication is characterized from a
specific K - Every bridge a K
77The value of k
- The best practices in communications must
minimize - in every context -
- The value of k
- The value of quality of science
communication - The smallest is K, the greatest is culture
and/or democracy
78Il sistema Venezia dalla metafora alla teoria
- Non bastano le buone pratiche
- Occorre capire
- Una teoria della comunicazione
- Una teoria nasce anche dal confronto di ipotesi
diverse e persino opposte - Un modello utile per la simulazione
- Ricerche empiriche
- Un istituto nazionale per lo studio dei rapporti
scienza e societÃ