Abstract
Effective science communication can empower research and innovation systems to address global challenges and put public interests at the heart of how knowledge is produced, shared, and applied. For science communication to play this mediating role effectively, we propose a more integrated and ‘evidence-based’ approach. This commentary identifies key issues facing the science communication field. It suggests a series of prescriptions, inspired by the impact of ‘evidence-based medicine’ over the past decades. In practice, evidence-based science communication should combine professional expertise and skills with the best available evidence from systematic research. Steps required to achieve this outcome include more quality assurance in science communication research, significant changes in teaching and training, and improved interfaces between science communication research and practice.
Highlights
Specialty section: This article was submitted to Science and Environmental Communication, a section of the journal Frontiers in Communication
For science communication to play this mediating role effectively, we propose a more integrated and “evidence-based” approach
We argue that the field of science communication faces challenges that would benefit from some of the prescriptions that evidence-based medicine offers, in particular, with the aim of helping research and practice take each other’s experiences and insights fully into account
Summary
Develop initiatives to encourage both researchers and practitioners to develop mutual understanding about their needs, experiences and unique capabilities and forms of expertise. Establish more effective mechanisms for exchange that work for practitioners and researchers that transcend the limitations of scholarly publishing
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