The more, the earlier, the better: Science communication supports science education

Abstract

Since the 1980s, science communication and science education have experienced noteworthy changes and progress. Evolving and expanding on their way to accomplishing their historical missions, the two areas have at least one goal in common - to improve the scientific literacy of the people to enable them to live well in a modern society that is being transformed by science and technology more rapidly and completely than ever before. Considerable achievements have been made in both areas, but there are still many opportunities to do better. The authors review and analyse work in science education and science communication over the past three decades, focusing on common goals. They argue that problems in science education, such as shortages of trained science teachers, can be reduced in the short term by applying practices from science communication, by linking scientists and science communicators more closely with educators, and by doing so at an earlier stage in students' school education. © 2008 Springer Netherlands.