Communicating science: how can we share it?

Originally written for The Student, April 2013

Edinburgh International Science Festival – National Museum of Scotland, 23 March

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“Curiosity is in our genes”, argued Anne Glover, Chief Scientific Adviser to the President of the European Commission, in the opening talk of the Edinburgh International Science Festival. Judging by the electric atmosphere that filled the exhibition halls of the National Museum of Scotland, she’s not wrong.

As Glover explained, it’s more than just an interesting turn of events that humans strive for knowledge. Scientific progress will be essential in tackling global issues like increasing energy demands, food security and ageing populations. It also drives the innovation that leads to the array of gadgets we are now so heavily reliant on.

But the power of science doesn’t stop there. Bridges can be built between scientists from nations that otherwise have no chance of reconciliation. This ‘science diplomacy’ existed between the US and the Soviet Union during the Cold War and more recently US scientists have worked with officials from North Korea, Iran and Cuba.

Motivating scientists to communicate their work is not always straightforward. With heavy pressure to churn out publications in order to secure funding, it will be necessary to reward scientists in some way for public engagement. It’s easy for an exciting scientific discovery to be painted in the wrong light by the media and cast out as dangerous or ethically questionable. Scientists must communicate proactively before lobby groups fill the void.

Science is full of uncertainty. This may seem like a frustrating concept, but Glover insisted it’s what gets her up in the morning. It is important that scientists are open about what facts they do or don’t have, and show empathy for public concerns.

Ending with a question and answer session, it was clear the audience were in full agreement with Glover’s advocation of widening the flow of science communication. But one question kept coming up: how will scientists learn to do that? It may be that the communication of science will be incorporated into undergraduate degrees in the not-too-distant future.