An analysis of public-oriented science communication by Chinese research groups in the context of responsible innovation

Abstract

Scientific research groups in universities and research institutions are primary units for providing public-oriented science communication. This study is one of the few studies concerning scientific research groups in China. In 2018, our research team surveyed the public-oriented science communication activities of 601 scientific research groups in China using questionnaires. The survey shows that Chinese scientific research groups are active in promoting science to the public, and that related work structure and guarantee mechanisms have been established and have already produced some social benefits. However, there remain challenges, including limited channels for science communication, insufficient collaboration among the participants in the communication process and unbalanced investment. Based on an analysis of the survey results, we put forward several suggestions on how to encourage scientific research groups of universities and research institutions to engage in public-oriented science communication activities.