Communicating science across cultures – Session 2 – Heritage and engagement

Author: Steve Miller – University College London, United Kingdom

Co-authors:
Marina Joubert – Stellenbosch University
Pedro Russo – University of Leiden
Tibisay Sankatsing Nava – University of Leiden

Considerable efforts have been put into understanding how different publics make sense of matters scientific (broadly understood) and how they relate to their existing systems of knowledge and belief. Practices in science communication and engagement have been developed to allow for these varied understandings and to enable ordinary citizens to participate in projects and decisions that involve considerable input from science.

A lot of this work, however, has been concentrated on situations where both the scientific community and their fellow citizens have similar cultural backgrounds, and where there is at least some consensus that science is “a good thing”, in terms of problem solving and economic and social well-being. Increasingly, however, the science communication community is facing situations where shared cultural backgrounds and beliefs cannot be assumed.

These two linked sessions set out to explore these situations, to exchange ideas and noteworthy practices, and to deepen the understanding of the PCST community itself on what it means to communicate about science “across” cultures. This second of the two sessions looks at a number of case studies including from the Caribbean and South Africa.

The author has not yet submitted a copy of the full paper.

Presentation type: Grouped paper
Theme: Society
Area of interest: Comparing science communication across cultures