Dialogue and debate: the new challenges of Science Communication

Steve Miller University College London

Mid-1990sMid-1990s

Deficit Model

Top downTop down

One wayOne way

PaternalisticPaternalistic

Sheila Jasanoff: “Civic dislocation”

Trust in the government vanished, and people looked elsewhere for information and advice. In the UK, public confidence … rests on the reliability of persons … in the USA …trust rests in formal processes

Gregory and Miller: The public are not quick to think the worst of scientists …the key is trust … established through the negotiation of a mutual understanding

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are needed to see this picture.How neutral and/or How neutral and/or trustworthy trustworthy isis science?science?

BSE and GM

From wealth distribution to risk distribution

The new paradigm: How can the risks and hazards systematically produced be prevented, minimised, dramatised or channelled

“If the public only know what technical people know, they would be put at ease” - wrong.

Even in their highly mathematical or technical garb, statements on risk contain statements of the type that is how we want to live …

… … in their concern with risk, the natural sciences have disempowered in their concern with risk, the natural sciences have disempowered themselves somewhat, forced themselves towards democracy.themselves somewhat, forced themselves towards democracy.

Ulrich Beck Risk Society: Towards a New Modernity (1986)

2000 - the impact of “scandals”

- a “crisis of trust”

……the new mood the new mood for dialoguefor dialogue

The mood changes across Europe

At the dawn of the 21st Century … our society is faced with the challenge of finding its proper place in a world shaken by economic and political turbulence.

… science, technology and innovation are indispensable to meet this challenge.

However, there are indications that the immense potential … is out of step with European citizens …

Science activities need to centre around the needs and aspirations of Europe’s citizens to a greater extent than at present.

38 actions38 actions

involving involving scientists, scientists, governments governments and the mediaand the media

Different approaches

- PUS

- PUSH

- Culture Scientifique

POST Open Channels

Dialogue and debate - five questions

Dia-Dia-logue v. logue v. mono-mono-aud - who’s talking and who’s listening?aud - who’s talking and who’s listening?

Policy orientation - who’s allowed in?Policy orientation - who’s allowed in?

The role of the media - media values v. policy expectationsThe role of the media - media values v. policy expectations

Consensus v. balanced oppositionConsensus v. balanced opposition

Communication - who’s trained for what?Communication - who’s trained for what?

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Dia-logue v. Mono-aud

• Is Dialogue the new Deficit Model - better persuasionIs Dialogue the new Deficit Model - better persuasion

• Is Dialogue the new Deficit Model - the Dialogue “Experts”Is Dialogue the new Deficit Model - the Dialogue “Experts”

• Is Dialogue the new Deficit Model - the “wrong” answerIs Dialogue the new Deficit Model - the “wrong” answer

• Is Dialogue the new Deficit Model - who responds to whatIs Dialogue the new Deficit Model - who responds to what

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Who’s allowed in?

NOW:

• Policy advice - elite to elitePolicy advice - elite to elite

• Public consultation - representative citizensPublic consultation - representative citizens

• Public outcome - “confident consumers”Public outcome - “confident consumers”

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Perugia Science Festival

1985: Scientist must “consider it their duty” to communicate

The role of the media

• Media have their own Media have their own agendaagenda

• Media have their own Media have their own valuesvalues

• Media have their own Media have their own practicespractices

• Media “like” bad newsMedia “like” bad news

• Media like conflictMedia like conflict

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Much emphasis put on role of the media - BUT

Consensus v. balanced opposition

Consensus conference model - homogenous public?

• Tradition - issues are Tradition - issues are exploredexplored

• Tradition - facts are Tradition - facts are contestedcontested

• Tradition - interests are Tradition - interests are differentdifferent

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Outcome - winners and losersOutcome - winners and losers

• Writing for and talking to the media, plus media culture

• Presenting for policy makers and science centres

• Talking and listening

• Communicating risk and controversy

Communication trainingwww.ensconet.org

Modules for Science Communication Training

Training enhances confidence …Training enhances confidence …

… … but does it make better communicators?but does it make better communicators?

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Dialogue and Debate: the new challenges of Science CommunicationSteve Miller University College London

s.miller@ucl.ac.uk