Science communication
Science communication connects experts and the public through outreach and dialogue.
Science communication encompasses a wide range of activities that connect science and society. Common goals include informing non-experts about scientific findings, raising public awareness of and interest in science, influencing attitudes and behaviors, informing public policy, and engaging diverse communities to address societal problems. The term generally refers to outreach settings where audiences are not experts, though some authors include expert-to-expert communication as a type of science communication.
- field
- Science communication
- known_for
- Connecting science and society through outreach, journalism, and public engagement
- goals
- Informing non-experts, raising awareness, influencing behavior, informing policy, engaging communities
- practitioners
- Scientific experts, science journalists, science artists, medical professionals, nature center educators, science advisors
- related_fields
- Informal science education, citizen science, public engagement with science
Lore & Background
Science communication has historically been discouraged for academic scientists, but that has begun to change. Research funders now expect broader impacts beyond academic publication, and an increasing number of scientists—especially younger scholars—express interest in engaging the public via social media and in-person events, though they perceive institutional barriers. The field is closely related to informal science education, citizen science, and public engagement, with no general agreement on how to distinguish them.
Reader's Guide
Science communication is an interdisciplinary field of social science research that examines topics such as misinformation, public opinion of emerging technologies, and the politicization and polarization of science. For decades, research and practice had limited mutual influence, but both communities are increasingly attempting to bridge the gap. The field is shaped by systemic inequalities that affect both inreach and outreach. Historically, the 'deficit model' of science communication has been criticized for reinforcing boundaries between experts and the public, though some scholars argue that epistemic asymmetry is an inherent challenge. Science communicators use entertainment and persuasion techniques—humor, storytelling, metaphors—to connect with audiences. Trust-building plays a central role in bridging gaps between stakeholders in public policy, industry, and civil society.
Did You Know?
- Science communication includes both outreach to non-experts and inreach among experts, such as publication in scientific journals.
- The deficit model of science communication has been criticized for implying a tight boundary around those who articulate true, reliable knowledge.
- Research funders have raised expectations for scientists to have broader impacts beyond academic publication.
- Science communication is influenced by systemic inequalities that impact both inreach and outreach.
More in Communication & Media 1-19
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record