Knowra Public understanding of science Public understanding of science Public understanding of science is how people outside specialist research communities acquire, interpret, discuss, and use scientific knowledge in civic and everyday life.
Science communication : The practice and study of communicating scientific knowledge among researchers and with wider publics. It examines the channels and choices through which scientific knowledge reaches public life.
Public understanding of science movement : A late twentieth-century movement that promoted public knowledge of science, especially in Britain. It gave the concept its influential institutional and policy form.
Risk communication : The exchange of information and judgments about hazards, uncertainty, and possible consequences. Scientific risk claims matter only as publics interpret them amid uncertainty.
Public engagement with science and technology : Approaches that involve publics in dialogue and decision-making about science and technology. It emphasizes participation where older understanding initiatives often emphasized teaching.
Public opinion of science : Patterns in public attitudes toward science, scientists, and scientific institutions. Surveys measure attitudes, but they do not necessarily reveal understanding.
Knowledge deficit model : A model that attributes public disagreement with science chiefly to insufficient scientific knowledge. It offers a once-dominant explanation for why public understanding might fail.
Bodmer Report : A 1985 report by the Royal Society advocating stronger public understanding of science in Britain. Its recommendations helped launch organized public-understanding initiatives.
Vaccine hesitancy : A delay in accepting or refusal of vaccines despite their availability. It shows how knowledge, confidence, access, and social influences shape health choices.
Public participation in science : The involvement of non-specialists in scientific research, governance, or decisions about science. It distinguishes taking part in science from understanding scientific claims.
Scientific literacy measurement : Methods for assessing people’s knowledge and reasoning about scientific ideas and practices. Measurement choices determine what counts as public understanding.
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