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How to strengthen public trust in geosciences
Language
English
Obiettivo Specifico
3TM. Comunicazione
Status
Published
Pages Number
117-124
Refereed
Yes
Title of the book
Issued date
2015
Abstract
Abstract: Finding an appropriate way to communicate scientific knowledge has always
been a challenge, but lately it has become even more so. In fact a few recent episodes have
dramatically weakened the mutual confidence between society and research. This happened
within a process that had been slowly leading scientists to communicate science more effectively,
and society to being more inclined to learn about natural hazards.
Unfortunately, in some cases the failures or the uncertainty in describing natural phenomena
turned out to be very negative for the scientific community. In addition, in a few cases
scientists were considered at fault or co-responsible for actions not undertaken to mitigate the
risk, and these cases illustrate how the role of science became confused with that of politics.
In this work I analyse what went wrong in the light of geoethics, which studies moral behaviour
and the discrimination between right and wrong conduct.
I then try to assess what can be done to recover and possibly instil more confidence in
science, again in terms of ethics. In summary, the recent developments of the relationship
between science and society suggest a ‘new deal’, in which society has lower expectations
as to what science can deliver, and within which there is a scientific community that has
been adequately trained to communicate with the public. Additionally, an effort must be
made to include uncertainties in communication and to educate citizens in a better understanding
of uncertainties as a part of the flow of information.
been a challenge, but lately it has become even more so. In fact a few recent episodes have
dramatically weakened the mutual confidence between society and research. This happened
within a process that had been slowly leading scientists to communicate science more effectively,
and society to being more inclined to learn about natural hazards.
Unfortunately, in some cases the failures or the uncertainty in describing natural phenomena
turned out to be very negative for the scientific community. In addition, in a few cases
scientists were considered at fault or co-responsible for actions not undertaken to mitigate the
risk, and these cases illustrate how the role of science became confused with that of politics.
In this work I analyse what went wrong in the light of geoethics, which studies moral behaviour
and the discrimination between right and wrong conduct.
I then try to assess what can be done to recover and possibly instil more confidence in
science, again in terms of ethics. In summary, the recent developments of the relationship
between science and society suggest a ‘new deal’, in which society has lower expectations
as to what science can deliver, and within which there is a scientific community that has
been adequately trained to communicate with the public. Additionally, an effort must be
made to include uncertainties in communication and to educate citizens in a better understanding
of uncertainties as a part of the flow of information.
Type
book chapter
File(s)
No Thumbnail Available
Name
Geological Society, London, Special Publications-2015-Solarino-SP419.14.pdf
Description
Published article
Size
507.71 KB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
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