The Changing Nature of Science Communication: Diversification, Education and Professionalisation

Abstract

The previous chapter focused on scientists as actors in public communication. We argued that we should not view scientists solely as individuals but instead see them as acting as representatives of different collectives. But scientists are not the only, and maybe not even the primary, actors within contemporary science communication. This is, as we argued in Chap. 1, a highly diverse ecosystem. It is filled not only with a wide range of formats but with different actors with different professional affiliations and interests. For every high-profile celebrity scientist like Dawkins or deGrasse Tyson, there are a myriad post-docs doing outreach activities, press officers publicising their university’s science, and museum explainers and communicators writing and speaking and making exhibitions.