Factors Affecting Science Communication by Scientists and Engineers

1
Factors Affecting Science Communication by
Scientists and Engineers

• Survey of Academic
• Scientists and Engineers

Dr Suzanne King People Science Policy Ltd
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The Survey

• The Royal Society
• The Research Councils
• The Wellcome Trust

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The Survey

• Web-based survey of 1485 research scientists and
  engineers in UK HEIs
• Additional samples of
• RC unit staff
• Wellcome Trust fellows
• Royal Society fellows
• 41 follow-up in-depth telephone interviews
• Interviews with national stakeholder organisations

4
What did public engagement mean?

• Promote public understanding of science (34)
• Highlight implications, relevance and value of
  science (15)
• Listening and understanding the public (13)

5
What was the purpose of public engagement?

• Better informed public (35)
• Least important reasons
• Contribute to ethical discussions (5)
• Recruit students (4)

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What had they done in the past year?

• 74 had taken part in at least one science
  communication activity

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Who was the audience?

• Policy-makers (60)
• Schools and teachers (50)
• Industry (47)
• NGOs (34)
• Media (33)

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How active had they been in the last year?

• 11 very active (more than 10 activities)
• 63 active (1-10 activities)
• 26 inactive (no activities)
• 47 wanted to spend more time on public
  engagement
• When asked an open question why - 66 said
  because scientists should engage with the
  community
• 3 wanted to do less public engagement

9
Who did public engagement?

• Those with communication training
• Senior researchers
• Those over 40
• Government and charity funded researchers
• Clinical and non-bioscience researchers
• Those in departments rated 1-5 in the RAE
• Those in research only positions

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What would encourage you to get (more) involved?
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The need for an infrastructure

• 21 if someone else initiated it they would get
  involved
• 39 very/fairly difficult to get involved

12
The need for culture change

• Time away from research (70)
• Career depends on RAE and bringing in money to
  department
• Scientists who do PE less well regarded by peers
  (20 agreed but 54 disagreed)
• Reinforced negative stereotypes of women