The Department of Life Sciences Communication has long been a strong contributor to the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. That relationship continued when LSC professor Dietram Scheufele was asked by the National Research Council to serve as the vice chair for NASEM’s ‘Science of Science Communication’ committee. The committee’s report titled, “Communicating Science Effectively: A Research Agenda” was released today.
The panel brought together a diverse group of scientists and science communicators with the goal of creating a report to help guide research on how to communicate about controversial science effectively.
The report includes an analysis of what is currently known about effective modes of communication, an overview of the major challenges for science communication, and outlines areas for future research to promote more effective communication.
“The report is really an attempt to map out the field of science communication, but also to identify areas of research for the future that will help us do a better job connecting with different audiences on emerging science,” notes Scheufele. “In the long run, national security, public health and our competitiveness in global markets will depend on successfully communicating the value and findings from science to citizens.”
Scheufele has been involved in NASEM-related efforts on ‘The Science of Science Communication’ before, co-organizing colloquia in 2012 and 2013, featuring various speakers, including LSC chair Dominique Brossard. Additionally, Scheufele serves on NASEM’s Division of Earth and Life Studies Board, and NASEM’s international panel examining the implications of human gene editing; their report is due out in early 2017.
A link to the full ‘Science of Science Communication’ report can be found here.
For more information on the report and key highlights be sure to read this article in The Conversationwritten by Scheufele and Arizona State University’s Andrew Maynard.