The BA welcomes Royal Society science communication report (29 June 2006)
The BA (British Association for the Advancement of Science) welcomes the publication today of a report on the findings of a major study into the factors affecting science communication by scientists and engineers, published by the Royal Society and supported by Research Councils UK and the Wellcome Trust.
The BA seeks to advance the public understanding, accessibility and accountability of the sciences and engineering, helping create a society comfortable with and supportive of science and technology. This can best be achieved if the scientific community, policy makers and the broad public share a common and open culture in relation to science and its applications; in particular, so that they share perspectives and understandings of the benefits, opportunities, priorities and concerns about the directions of scientific research and its applications through technology and engineering, said Roland Jackson, Chief Executive "That means scientists and engineers seeing it as part of their professional role to engage in a variety of ways with the wider society, and we welcome the recommendations in the report that aim to encourage and support this."
By providing opportunities for scientists to make face to face contact with non specialist audiences the BA aims to foster dialogue with society as a whole. A major part of this is the annual BA Festival of Science, the UK’s largest science festival attracting around 400 of the best scientists from home and abroad to reveal the latest developments in research. This year the festival is being held in Norwich from 2-9 September. In addition, the BA orchestrates National Science Week, in March, as an opportunity for people of all ages to take part in science, engineering and technology activities.
Media fellowships run by the BA offer scientists and engineers the opportunity to take up work placements with a national press, broadcast or internet journalist.
During placements of between 3 and 8 weeks fellows learn to work within the conditions and constraints of the media to produce accurate and well informed pieces about developments in science. After their placements fellows are better equipped to communicate their research and expertise to the public.
The Science Communication Conference, organised jointly with the Royal Society seeks to address issues facing science communicators in the UK and to play an important role in helping develop a national strategy for science communication. At this year’s conference on 13 and 14 July we will be providing science communicators with the opportunity of exploring what this survey tells us about how scientists view communicating with public audiences.
The BA seeks to advance the public understanding, accessibility and accountability of the sciences and engineering, helping create a society comfortable with and supportive of science and technology. This can best be achieved if the scientific community, policy makers and the broad public share a common and open culture in relation to science and its applications; in particular, so that they share perspectives and understandings of the benefits, opportunities, priorities and concerns about the directions of scientific research and its applications through technology and engineering, said Roland Jackson, Chief Executive "That means scientists and engineers seeing it as part of their professional role to engage in a variety of ways with the wider society, and we welcome the recommendations in the report that aim to encourage and support this."
By providing opportunities for scientists to make face to face contact with non specialist audiences the BA aims to foster dialogue with society as a whole. A major part of this is the annual BA Festival of Science, the UK’s largest science festival attracting around 400 of the best scientists from home and abroad to reveal the latest developments in research. This year the festival is being held in Norwich from 2-9 September. In addition, the BA orchestrates National Science Week, in March, as an opportunity for people of all ages to take part in science, engineering and technology activities.
Media fellowships run by the BA offer scientists and engineers the opportunity to take up work placements with a national press, broadcast or internet journalist.
During placements of between 3 and 8 weeks fellows learn to work within the conditions and constraints of the media to produce accurate and well informed pieces about developments in science. After their placements fellows are better equipped to communicate their research and expertise to the public.
The Science Communication Conference, organised jointly with the Royal Society seeks to address issues facing science communicators in the UK and to play an important role in helping develop a national strategy for science communication. At this year’s conference on 13 and 14 July we will be providing science communicators with the opportunity of exploring what this survey tells us about how scientists view communicating with public audiences.
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