糖心原创

The Science, Technology and Society research priority group recently hosted prominent science communications expert Rick Borchelt. Rick is Special Assistant for Public Affairs to the Director of the National Cancer Institute at the  and was the Special Assistant for Public Affairs Science and Technology in the Executive Office of The President during the Clinton Administration.

Rick's fascinating lecture reviewed public communication of science and technology (PCST) literature published between 2000-2009. The work revealed that much of the research funding in this field support utilitarian efforts at building public support for controversial or emerging technologies about which there is likely to be public scepticism. 

The lecture ended with a passionate call for a new agenda: one not tied to vested interests, but rather derived from provocative questions that could truly invigorate the field and challenge a broad spectrum of researchers to offer better approaches to public engagement in science and science policy. 

The lecture was reviewed by local science enthusiast Ash Choudry, which has been turned into a guest post on the University's Making Science Public blog.