Lost in translation? Ways for environmental sciences to communicate about risk and research

Abstract

This editorial is an introduction to a paper series on the communication of environmental sciences and risk, developed as an idea from a session at the 6th SETAC World Congress 2012. Environmental sciences are at the heart of what people affect in their daily lives: environmental quality, safe food, clean air, fresh water - and hence crucial for sound public health. Why aren't we in their daily minds? How should we communicate to get there? Communication means to convey meaningful information to create shared understanding. But only a minority of scientists have knowledge about the principles of science communication and even less than these are certainly up-to-date with modern communication concepts. The paper series "Lost in translation? Ways for environmental sciences to communicate about risk and research" collates views and perspectives on science and risk communication from different angles to initiate a broader discussion on the communication about research findings in environmental sciences. © 2013 Seiler et al.; licensee Springer.