Science Communication: New Frontiers

Abstract

This chapter reviews recent trends in the science communication landscape in more detail. Journalism responds to advocacy voices and routinely depends on information subsidies for knowledge of issues and events. This highlights the importance of other knowledge brokers. Despite the “public engagement” movement within science, available data do not show much change in patterns of scientists’ activity. A variety of novel formats for citizen deliberation have been tried, but these are often one-time experiments with limited influence on policy. Environmental groups may find their traditional constituencies reject some potential climate solutions. Meanwhile, the proliferation of Internet-based information sources, operating without journalists as gatekeepers, has profound implications. Studies of information seekers and how they process what they find provide additional insights.