HAVE WE GOT THE SCIENCE COMMUNICATION MODEL WRONG?

Science Media Studies. Science and the Media, Typical names for courses which promise to address the issues of improving public understanding of science. In reality they produce science journalists.

Though we certainly need such translators, there is a greater need to produce working scientists who can tell the general public an engaging tale which explains what they are doing. The public wants to hear about science from those who do it.

Perhaps we can find new ways or tricks to attract the attention of the scientifically illiterate, but there is a greater need to teach scientists how to tell a simple yet accurate story that will appeal to all.

Scientists are not encouraged to develop their imagination in this way. Yet at the time when we introduce under-graduates to the principles and techniques of science, they should also be experimenting with effective communication techniques.

When they graduate they should be as comfortable with the technology of film, radio, image manipulation, and the written word as they are with a hammer, microscope, spectrometer, and computer.

They should know how to create focussed and engaging short presentations or how to plan and execute a full blown lecture that captivates an audience.

Though many scientists will quote that a picture is worth a thousand words, few recognise what makes an image really work.

Why do so few scientists explore science in writing, art, music and poetry. And humour? If Monty Python could write a factually accurate hymn to “This wonderful expanding universe of ours” why can’t scientists. Mathematician Tom Lehrer’s showed us a very long time ago how to do it when he sang the praises of master plagiarist Lobochevsky. Where is his successor?

We need to find ways to remove the mental “my subject” button which when touched causes them to revert to the stilted, awkward and unnatural language of report writing.

With properly taught communication skills scientists will give good science interviews for print, radio or television. The media will come back for more.

If we unlock the creative side of the next generation of scientists now, give them the opportunity to experiment with the vibrant ideas entombed in their subject through different media they will naturally want to find an audience and fire them with enthusiasm.