Turf Wars: Science Communication in Australian Science and Technology Degrees?

Part 1: Scholarly concerns over science communication and in particular public attitudes towards and engagement with science have continued for almost half a century, but the establishment of a ‘hands-on' science centre in Canberra in 1980 put practice ahead of theory and led to the building of Questacon—the National Science and Technology Centre in 1988. The driving force behind this development was Australian National University physicist Dr Mike Gore. Funding came from the Australian and Japanese Governments—the latter a bicentennial gift—and a team of ‘explainers' at the centre helped visitors to appreciate that this science centre was not a museum but a place where science had a human face.

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Issues concerning the science communication ethics of science and technology museums

Cultures of Science ◽

10.1177/20966083211026283 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 209660832110262

Author(s):

Xiang Li ◽

Xuan Liu ◽

Huiping Chu

Keyword(s):

Science Communication ◽

Ethical Issues ◽

Science And Technology ◽

Scientific Culture ◽

Communication Ethics ◽

Ethics Of Science ◽

Contemporary Science

This paper reviews the acceleration of what is known as the ‘museumization’ process globally in the context of the New Museum Movement, and the particular mission of science and technology museums in representing scientific culture. It analyses the significance of science and technology museums in presenting critical concepts of contemporary science and technology, such as the controversies and uncertainties of science, as well as the diverse subjects that need to be involved in the process of representation, thereby underscoring the complexity of the ethical issues of science communication faced by science and technology museums.

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Ronayne, Jarlath. The Allocation of Resources to Research and Development: A Review of Policies and Procedures. Report to the Australian Science and Technology Council (ASTEC). iv + 132 pp

Science Technology & Human Values ◽

10.1177/016224398000500443 ◽

1980 ◽

Vol 5 (4) ◽

pp. 72-73

Keyword(s):

Research And Development ◽

Science And Technology ◽

Allocation Of Resources ◽

Policies And Procedures ◽

Australian Science

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Studying behaviours and attitudes towards science and technology

Impact ◽

10.21820/23987073.2021.4.27 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2021 (4) ◽

pp. 27-29

Author(s):

Naoko Kato-Nitta

Keyword(s):

Cultural Capital ◽

Social Stratification ◽

Science Communication ◽

Data Science ◽

Social Scientist ◽

Science And Technology ◽

Public Understanding ◽

Communication Model ◽

Statistical Mathematics ◽

Understanding Of Science

What makes research important is an important philosophical question that is a consideration for many researchers. Further important considerations are the public's perception of science and how an individual's perception of science and technology is shaped. These are some of the complex ideas that social scientist Dr Naoko Kato-Nitta, Department of Statistical Data Science, Institute of Statistical Mathematics, Japan, is exploring. She is working on a series of projects related to public perceptions and attitudes towards different scientific disciplines and fields. She hopes that answering such important questions will facilitate the creation of a science communication model for the public understanding of science. Kato-Nitta's research focuses on human behaviour and psychology and how it relates to issues at the interface of technology and society. A key question that she is seeking to answer from the standpoint of cultural capital is how the extent of the general public's participation in science communication can be determined. In the first research to connect social stratification theory and science communication research, Kato-Nitta divided the concept of Bourdieu's cultural capital into two sub-concepts: scientific and technical cultural capital and literary and artistic cultural capital. She went on to consider how these two types of cultural capital affect the exhibit-viewing behaviours of the general public.

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Research and Network Opportunities in the Field of Science Communication

Improving Scientific Communication for Lifelong Learners - Advances in Higher Education and Professional Development ◽

10.4018/978-1-7998-4534-8.ch010 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 180-194

Author(s):

Rabia Tas

Keyword(s):

Science Communication ◽

Science And Technology ◽

Target Groups ◽

International Networks ◽

Research Activities ◽

Audience Interaction ◽

Fast Development ◽

Technological Developments ◽

Software And Hardware ◽

The Right

Science and technology have been developing at a great pace. There are numerous breakthrough innovations and groundbreaking improvements in almost every aspect of life. Undoubtedly, another field experiencing such a fast development is communication. Communication has been following and adapting related technological developments not only in terms of software and hardware but also in terms of targeting the right audience and creating the audience interaction. While developments in science and technology feed communication, communication disseminates the outcomes of innovative studies to the defined target groups. Science communication becomes a part of this mutual relation. This study is focused on research funds, opportunities, and international networks in the field of science communication. Within this context, challenges in research activities and expected impact of research outcomes will be examined in terms of science communication. Also, the role and importance of networks in science communication will be examined in line with research funds and support provided for this field.

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