Policies and practices in supporting scientists' public communication through training

Abstract

Scientists are increasingly expected to engage in public communication, though they frequently report that they feel inadequately prepared for such activity. The necessary training for such activity has barely been discussed in the science communication literature. Drawing on country reports from the Monitoring Policy and Research Activities on Science in Society in Europe (MASIS) report, this paper reviews initiatives across Europe to support scientists' public communication. It examines these within a framework that distinguishes between training oriented to dissemination or dialogue, and to capacity-building of scientists or professionalisation of science communicators. It traces the uneven spread and diverse character of such supports and identifies the four principal groups of policy actors who play distinct roles and, in the case of higher education institutions, sometimes internally contradictory roles. The paper draws on the authors' own experiences to underline the value of communication training that is oriented to dialogue and stimulates reflexivity. © The Author 2012. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.