The Role of Scientists in Public Debate

Research into the public understanding of science has tended to focus on identifying and understanding the views of the general public towards science. By contrast, little effort has been made to understand how scientists themselves perceive increasing calls for them to become more involved in communicating their research to the public, and to increase dialogue on the social and ethical implications of this research.

For this reason, the Wellcome Trust commissioned MORI to undertake a large-scale survey of scientists. MORI conducted face-to-face interviews with more than 1600 UK scientists funded by a range of academic, charity and industry sources.

The research aimed to investigate whether scientists consider themselves to be the people most responsible for and best equipped to communicate their scientific research and its implications to the public; what benefits and barriers they see to a greater public understanding of science; and what needs to change for scientists to take a greater role in science communication.

Key findings

• More than half of the scientists had participated in some form of communication of research to non-specialist audiences in the previous year
• However, fewer than one in five have had training to deal with the media and/or to communicate with the public
• More than a third of scientists feel ill-equipped to discuss the social and ethical implications of their research
• Public lack of education about and interest in science, and the perceived distorting effect of the media, were considered to be the main barriers to an improved public understanding of science
• Scientists most commonly mentioned three things when asked what would help communications between themselves and the public:
  1. encouragement and incentives from their institutions and funders to spend more time communicating
  2. training in dealing with the media
  3. financial support for communication activities.

Executive summary [Word 24KB]
A brief overview of the project and key findings.

Full report [PDF 171KB]
MORI's report of the project.

Summary of research findings [PDF 159KB]
An 11-page summary of the research findings.

Appendices [Word 1.27MB]
All the results from the project.

'Shackled to stereotypes' [PDF 371KB]
Article first published in 'Science and Public Affairs'.