Roles of Communication Centers in Communicating Science: A Multi-Disciplinary Forum - read online free

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by kopisore

Science communication faces widening strain between scientists and the public, fueled by a growing science confidence gap that can manifest as institutional distrust and resistance to listening. Skepticism and mistrust have stalled or reversed major initiatives, from anti-vaccine effects to climate and environmental policy rollbacks. Distrust can chill researchers’ openness, creating a vicious cycle of withholding and further skepticism. The forum proposes communication centers as a mediating mechanism, addressing administration, methods, and interdisciplinary strategies.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages21

Reading Time53 min

AccessFree to download

Science confidence gap and institutional distrust

Effects on policy and scientific initiatives

Chilling effects on researchers and information sharing

Proprietary secrecy and public suspicion

Limits of the deficit model of science communication

Why increased literacy may not reduce skepticism

Role and strategy of communication centers

Administrative perspective and director responsibilities

Interdisciplinary perspectives for enhancing communication

Roles of Communication Centers in Communicating Science: A Multi-Disciplinary Forum Roy Schwartzman University of North Carolina at Greensboro Bruce K. Kirchoff University of North Carolina at Greensboro Kimberly M. Cuny University of North Carolina at Greensboro The communicative relationships between scientists and audiences they address beyond their specialized fields have become increasingly strained. These fractures result not simply from an illinformed lay public, but from deeper trepidation about the ethos of science.“Citizens often know what scientists think, but it seems that a substantial (and by some measures growing) portion of the public simply does not trust science in general”(Pechar, Bernauer, & Mayer, 2018, p. 293) . This “science confidence gap”(Achterberg, de Koster, & van der Waal, 2017) has sowna growing institutional distrust of science itself, which can manifest as unwillingness to listen to scientific communication. Important scientific advances may face rising tides of public resistance as “a general mistrust of science and scientists has produced a paralyzing form of skepticism that empowers scientific populism” (Camargo & Grant, 2015, p. 232) . Skepticism about scientific findings along with mistrust of science as a guide for human action has stalled and sometimes reversed major scientifically grounded initiatives.“This mistrust has had disastrous results, as exemplified by the misguided influence of anti-vaccine activism that led toa resurgence in the United States and Europe of infectious diseases that had practically been eradicated”(Camargo & Grant, 2015, p. 232). President Donald Trump dismissed a multi-agency report from his own administration on the massive projected costs of climate change, saying simply,“I don’t believe it”(Gardner & Mason, 2018) . Despite scientific evidence of environmental degradation, the Trump administration has rescinded at least 85 environmental regulations that address issues such as air and water pollution, toxic substances, and wildlife preservation (Popovich, AlbeckRipka, & Pierre-Louis, 2019) . If the people who formulate policies and hold the purse strings disbelieve, dismiss, or demean science, what does this bode for the influence of scientific experts? Aside from raising concerns about what the basis of decision making might be, such an intellectual climate could have a chilling effect on future generations of scientists. Confronted with distrust or skepticism, researchers may become more insular, reducing or avoiding public communication that could call their work into question. For example, public backlash against genetically modified organisms (GMOs) has had a chilling effect on disclosure of emerging nanoscience research (David & Thompson, 2008). Fearing that research may be stifled or that funding might evaporate, more pressure builds to shield research from public scrutiny by broadening the scope of proprietary information and classifying more applied research as inscrutable “trade secrets”(Schwartzman, 2014) . Restrictions on the sale of genetically modified food products in the European Union suggest that such fears have some justification (Marvier, 2009) . Constricting communication about research, however, arouses public suspicion. Pew Research Center (2019) surveys reveal that public trust in science increases when they receive more transparent communication about scientific research, data, and funding. A vicious circle ensues: public distrust of science increases withholding of information, which leads to more distrust. It is tempting to attribute such conditions to rampant anti-intellectualism, caricaturing science skeptics as naïve or ignorant. Focusing on the knowledge nonspecialists lack, the deficit model of science communication suggests that lapses in communicating science can be corrected by promoting greater scientific literacy (McNeil, 2013) . Once they understand science better, laypeople will thereby become more a

FAQs

What is the “science confidence gap,” and how does it affect communication?

It describes a widening lack of public trust in science and can lead to reluctance to engage with scientific communication. This distrust contributes to resistance to scientific messages and makes dialogue harder.

How can mistrust hinder scientific progress and experts’ influence?

Mistrust can stall or reverse initiatives and chill researchers’ willingness to communicate publicly. People who control policy may dismiss scientific evidence, and researchers may respond by limiting disclosure or expanding secrecy.

Why does the forum argue that communication centers are uniquely suited to help?

Communication centers can mediate disconnects between scientists and audiences by improving how science is presented in social settings. The forum frames communication centers as an indispensable resource that supports scientists in addressing nonspecialist audiences through interdisciplinary approaches.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by kopisore