Science Communication: A Step Towards Responsible Science

In recent years, there has been increased recognition for science to respond to the society’s needs in finding solutions to global challenges. While the value of scientific knowledge in improving living standards and addressing basic human needs has long been recognised, there continues to exist a divide between the relevance of such knowledge for the needs of local communities. Can science address the challenges that people face on an everyday basis? Can scientific research and innovation become relevant for the people? Science communication plays a vital role in making science ‘open’, responsible and responsive to society. 

Understanding the role of science communication for society begins by acknowledging that the language of science spoken by scientists and public authorities restricts the achievements of scientific enquiry and scientific innovations to a rarified few. Scientists are trained to use technical language to communicate their research. For public authorities to use science to inform national policy and decision making, there is a need to break down scientific concepts and terminology into simple language. It is in this demystifying of concepts and achievements, that science communication can play a central role in humanising science, cultivating a culture of reasoning and questioning, and improving the use of science within the community. 

Regular engagement with the public further enables scientists to refine their research goals and the societal relevance of their research, retain focus on the bigger picture, and seek out community knowledge partners to collaboratively solve complex problems that affect everyone. Public engagement and demystification of science carried out together are indispensable for effective science communication to the people. 

By initiating this interaction between the world of science and society, science communication paves the way forward for bonds of trust to be formed between scientists, often accused of working in ivory towers, and the community, often excluded from understanding and contributing to the progress of scientific endeavours. The current pandemic has brought to the fore the importance of this bond. With the circulation of fake news and misinformation surrounding the novel coronavirus, countries which had previously invested in forging ties of mutual trust with their citizens have been successful in ensuring acceptance of policies and measures backed by scientific facts. The role of science communicators and journalists to ensure the flow of accurate information and its correct interpretation has supported large-scale adoption of mitigating measures to deal with the virus.

Many international and national policy frameworks underline the need to pursue open science. On a global level, the Recommendation on Science and Scientific Researchers stresses on the need for interaction between science and society, focusing on the role of ethics and responsibility while undertaking scientific research. India is a signatory to this recommendation framed by UNESCO. In a recent workshop organised by PRIA to publicly disseminate the Recommendation, the need for open science to extend beyond the notion of open access publications was highlighted. For the true practice of “Science for Society and Science with Society”, institutions and policies must recognise the knowledge that resides within communities, and efforts must be made to initiate more inclusive policy consultations. 

An increased recognition for interaction between science and society on the policy front is one step towards the transition to more responsible science. There is a need for institutional mechanisms to be strengthened to ensure dialogue between the concerned stakeholders. Furthermore, this needs to be backed by structural changes within the research institutions of a country. They must reorient their ways of functioning such that the new generation of scientific researchers recognise the need to analyse their work in light of the relevance it holds for society at large. 

The erosion of a social contract with science limits the ability of democratic societies worldwide to deal with future challenges. Moving towards a more socially responsible science system needs concerned stakeholders to communicate with one another. This requires effective science communication mechanisms and inclusive policy and research consultations. Strengthening these mechanisms will allow for new innovations and policies that address societal needs and for scientific solutions to be trusted, accepted and owned by every citizen. 

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