Opinion: Science Communication Is Central to the Practice of Science
"Explaining and defending knowledge is as essential to the scientific enterprise as publishing research. ... The phrase 'science communication' encompasses a movement of creators, writers, and scientists who aim to turn the products of science — discovery, theory, technical innovations — into more digestible forms. This includes science writing in public-facing venues (trade books, newspapers, magazines, blogs), in multimedia (TV, film), and increasingly on social media platforms. The movement has created a new professional class. Science communicators host television shows, direct short films, do stand-up comedy, make music, and utilize the visual arts. They win major awards and attend conferences. ... While this is all very exciting, I argue that we must not allow science communication to be pushed to the margins. Instead, the authors of rigorous science communication products are conducting an essential activity of formal scientific practice, charged with transfiguring complex ideas and bringing them into the homes and minds of many. And in this sense, the best science communicators are working like many science luminaries from the past, such as Charles Darwin, Michael Faraday, and others. Consequently, their products can be considered as central to scientific practice as the average peer-reviewed manuscript."
Opinion: Science Communication Is Central to the Practice of Science
"Explaining and defending knowledge is as essential to the scientific enterprise as publishing research. ... The phrase 'science communication' encompasses a movement of creators, writers, and scientists who aim to turn the products of science — discovery, theory, technical innovations — into more digestible forms. This includes science writing in public-facing venues (trade books, newspapers, magazines, blogs), in multimedia (TV, film), and increasingly on social media platforms. The movement has created a new professional class. Science communicators host television shows, direct short films, do stand-up comedy, make music, and utilize the visual arts. They win major awards and attend conferences. ... While this is all very exciting, I argue that we must not allow science communication to be pushed to the margins. Instead, the authors of rigorous science communication products are conducting an essential activity of formal scientific practice, charged with transfiguring complex ideas and bringing them into the homes and minds of many. And in this sense, the best science communicators are working like many science luminaries from the past, such as Charles Darwin, Michael Faraday, and others. Consequently, their products can be considered as central to scientific practice as the average peer-reviewed manuscript."