Science and Technology Committee (Commons)

Science communication inquiry

Inquiry status: open

Accepting written submissions.

Scope of the inquiry

The Committee is undertaking an inquiry into Science communication. A 2014 BIS report on Public Attitudes to Science (PDF 3.11 MB) found that "the UK public are as enthusiastic about science as they have ever been," but also that there were persistent misconceptions about how scientists work, concerns about how well science is regulated and a low level of trust in mainstream science journalism.

In the 2010-15 Parliament, BIS undertook a Science and Society Programme in 2012, published Public understanding of science and engineering and developed a UK Charter for Science and Society. A number of science and research organisations also have public engagement/awareness programmes. Broadcasters also have a role: for example, the BBC Trust reviewed impartiality and accuracy of BBC science coverage in 2011 (PDF 1.04 MB), identifying a need to avoid giving "undue attention to marginal opinion".

Terms of reference: Science communication Send a written submission

Latest evidence

  • 07 Sep 2016 - Science communication - oral evidence | PDF version (PDF310 KB) HC 162 | Published 13 Sep 2016

    Evidence given by Dr Seirian Sumner, Co-founder, Soapbox Science, Reader in Social Evolution, University of Bristol, Dr Nathalie Pettorelli, Co-founder, Soapbox Science, Research Fellow, Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Dr Penny Fidler, Chief Executive, UK Association for Science and Discovery Centres, and Tracey Brown, Director, Sense about Science; Paul Manners, Director, National Coordinating Centre for Public Engagement, and Matt Goode, Director of Communications and Public Engagement, Research Councils UK

    Watch this evidence session

Next meeting(s)

There are currently no public meetings scheduled.

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