Science in the Media

Question 1

Now are scientists shown in the the media?

Answer 1

• assumptions are made that:
  scientists are confusing and hard to understand
  we’ll use words that are long and complicated
• nothing a scientist says is 100% certain (because we can’t be)
  -There will always be critics who have an opposing view or opinion to contradict a scientific idea

Question 2

Is the media useful to science ?

Answer 2

Yes:

• our only (or main) means of contacting the general public at a national scale
• allows scientists to show their new/ current discoveries and information, especially those which affect all of us

No:

• scientists are always criticised
• journalists may misunderstand science and portray it wrong to the public, who then have the wrong idea
• there is very little coverage of science in the media

Question 3

What can we do in the future to improve the science-communication relationship?

Answer 3

• We need to’dumb down’ the use of long words
• Become more approachable

Its only when scientists can communicate with the public that things get done! (E.g. global warming)

Question 4

what happened recently which displayed good scientific data and influenced the public and government?

Answer 4

Flooding + Climate Change

-It required a serious trigger for the government to listen to the scientists about climate change