Routledge Handbook of Public Communication of Science and Technology - Second Edition

Communicating science and technology is a high priority of many research and policy institutions, a concern of many other private and public bodies, and an established subject of training and education. Over the past few decades, the field has developed and expanded significantly, both in terms of professional practice and in terms of research and reflection. The Routledge Handbook of Public Communication of Science and Technology provides a state-of-the-art review of this fast-growing and increasingly important area, through an examination of the research on the main actors, issues, and arenas involved. In this brand-new revised edition, the book brings the reviews up-to-date and deepens the analysis. As well as substantial reworking of many chapters, it gives more attention to digital media and the global aspects of science communication, with the inclusion of four new chapters. Several new contributors are added to leading mass-communication scholars, sociologists, public-relations practitioners, science writers, and others featured herein. With key questions for further discussion highlighted in each chapter, the handbook is a student-friendly resource and its scope and expert contributors mean it is also ideal for both practitioners and professionals working in the field. Combining the perspectives of different disciplines and of different geographical and cultural contexts, this original text provides an interdisciplinary and global approach to the public communication of science and technology. It is a valuable resource for students, researchers, educators, and professionals in media and journalism, sociology, the history of science, and science and technology.

List of contents

1. Science Communication Research: Themes and Challenges Massimiano Bucchi and Brian Trench 2. Popular Science Books: From Public Education to Science Bestsellers Alice Bell and Jon Turney 3. Science Journalism: Prospects in the Digital Age Sharon Dunwoody 4. Science Museums and Centres: Evolution and Contemporary Trends Bernard Schiele 5. Public Relations in Science: Managing the Trust Portfolio Rick E. Borchelt and Kristian H. Nielsen 6. Scientists as Public Experts: Expectations and Responsibilities Hans Peter Peters 7. Scientists in Popular Culture: the Making of Celebrities Declan Fahy and Bruce Lewenstein 8. Science and Technology In Film: Themes and Representations David A. Kirby 9. Environmentalists as Communicators of Science: Advocates and Critics Steven Yearley 10. Publics and Their Participation in Science and Technology: Changing Roles, Blurring Boundaries Edna F. Einsiedel 11. Public Understanding of Science: Survey Research Around the World Martin W. Bauer and Bankole A. Falade 12. Risk, Science and Public Communication: Third-Order Thinking About Scientific Culture Alan Irwin 13. Engaging in Science Policy Controversies: Insights From the US Climate Change Debate Matthew C. Nisbet 14. Communicating the Social Sciences: a Specific Challenge? Angela Cassidy 15. Health Campaign Research: Enduring Challenges and New Developments Robert A. Logan 16. Global Spread of Science Communication: Institutions and Practices Across Continents Brian Trench and Massimiano Bucchi, with Latifah Amin, Gultekin Cakmakci, Bankole A. Falade, Arko Olesk, Carmelo Polino 17. Assessing the Impact of Science Communication: Approaches to Evaluation Federico Neresini and Giuseppe Pellegrini

About the author

Massimiano Bucchi is Professor of Science and Technology in Society and of Science Communication at the University of Trento, Italy, and has been visiting professor in several academic and research institutions in Asia, Europe and North America. His publications include Science in Society (Routledge 2004), Beyond Technocracy. Citizens, Politics, Technoscience (Springer 2009) and essays in journals such as Nature, Science and Public Understanding of Science.

Brian Trench is a researcher and trainer in science communication, formerly Head of the School of Communications, Dublin City University, Ireland. He has published widely on topics in science communication and science in society and given talks and courses in many countries. He has served on advisory committees to government, state agencies, higher education and cultural institutions in science communication, research ethics and evaluation.

Massimiano Bucchi and Brian Trench are members of the scientific committee of the international Public Communication of Science and technology (PCST) network and are co-editors of Critical Concepts in Sociology: Science Communication (Routledge, 2015, Major Works series).

Summary

Communicating science and technology is a high priority of many research and policy institutions, a concern of many other private and public bodies, and an established subject of training and education. Over the past few decades, the field has developed and expanded significantly, both in terms of professional practice and in terms of research and reflection.
The Routledge Handbook of Public Communication of Science and Technology provides a state-of-the-art review of this fast-growing and increasingly important area, through an examination of the research on the main actors, issues, and arenas involved.
In this brand-new revised edition, the book brings the reviews up-to-date and deepens the analysis. As well as substantial reworking of many chapters, it gives more attention to digital media and the global aspects of science communication, with the inclusion of four new chapters. Several new contributors are added to leading mass-communication scholars, sociologists, public-relations practitioners, science writers, and others featured herein.
With key questions for further discussion highlighted in each chapter, the handbook is a student-friendly resource and its scope and expert contributors mean it is also ideal for both practitioners and professionals working in the field. Combining the perspectives of different disciplines and of different geographical and cultural contexts, this original text provides an interdisciplinary and global approach to the public communication of science and technology. It is a valuable resource for students, researchers, educators, and professionals in media and journalism, sociology, the history of science, and science and technology.

Additional text

"Massimiano Bucchi, Brian Trench, and the world-leading group of authors they have assembled give us a one-stop text vital to anyone who is seriously interested in the field of science communication. The chapters are highly informative and thought-provoking, providing a basis for well-informed discussion and debate around issues that are central to understanding how non-expert audiences can find out about and engage with science, technology, engineering, and medicine. The international scope of the book gives it an appeal to the science-communication community across the world." Professor Steven Miller, University College London, UK
"This work provides a useful introduction to the study of research trends in the public communication of science and technology. It is particularly strong in showing the changes in this field […] With editors and contributors from various parts of the world, the book is particularly sensitive to international issues… Highly recommended."Review of the first edition in Choice (American Library Association)
"This informative as well as formative book will foster the knowledge of those entering the science-communication field and those already well-established in it, and may even influence their actions in such an important field."Review of the first edition in Public Understanding of Science
"The range and depth of the work make it extremely useful for all scholars concerned with the fate of science in an environment that requires increasing specialization, causing a detachment between scientists and laypersons. Further, the work provides important global context to the issue of scientific communication.Summing Up: Highly recommended. All academic and professional audiences." -G. D. Oberle III, George Mason University, CHOICE Reviews, February 2015
"Routledge Handbook of Public Communication of Science and Technology, Second Edition is a superb collection of articles covering contemporary issues in science communication. The book’s theme is society’s relationship with science and the many factors that influence and complicate this relationship." – Diane Martinez, assistant professor of professional and technical communication, Western Carolina University

Product details

• Authors: Massimiano (University of Trento Bucchi, Massimiano Trench Bucchi
• Assisted by: Massimiano Bucchi (Editor), Massimiano (University of Trento Bucchi (Editor), Brian Trench (Editor), Brian (Dublin City University Trench (Editor)
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd.
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 19.06.2014
• EAN: 9780415834612
• ISBN: 978-0-415-83461-2
• No. of pages: 258
• Series: Routledge International Handbooks; Routledge International Handbo; Routledge International Handbooks
• Subjects: Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > Natural sciences (general); Social sciences, law, business > Media, communication > Media science