The conflation of motives of science communication - causes, consequences, remedies

Weingart P, Joubert M. The conflation of motives of science communication - causes, consequences, remedies. JCOM-JOURNAL OF SCIENCE COMMUNICATION. 2019;18(3): Y01.We explore and discuss the diverse motives that drive science communication, pointing out that political motives are the major driving force behind most science communication programmes including so-called public engagement with science with the result that educational and promotional objectives are blurred and science communication activities are rarely evaluated meaningfully. Since this conflation of motives of science communication and the gap between political rhetoric and science communication practice could threaten the credibility of science, we argue for the restoration of a crucial distinction between two types of science communication: educational/dialogic vs promotional/persuasive

Expert voices in South African mass media during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Scientists increasingly recognise that media visibility allows them to gain influence in public and policy spheres. However, some scientists shy away from publicity and journalists are purposefully selective when they seek out experts to interview. This may result in a skewed representation of scientists in the mass media. In this study, we explored which South African scientific experts at the academic rank of ‘professor’ were quoted in the local mass media during the initial 6 months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our analysis of 1164 media articles related to COVID-19 showed that, as far as gender is concerned, men dominated as expert sources, with women accounting for only 30% of quoted professors. In terms of research field, most experts were from the broad field of health and medicine, with an underrepresentation of social scientists. We reflect on the implications and consequences of a skewed media representation of scientific expertise, as well as some of the options to remedy these imbalances.Significance:• This is the first study to identify the most visible science experts in the mass media in South Africa during the COVID-19 pandemic.• We recommend options for institutions, researchers, media editors and journalists to help diversify expert sources that are featured or quoted in the mass media

Science communication as a field of research : identifying trends, challenges and gaps by analysing research papers

CITATION: Guenther, L. & Joubert, M. 2017. Science communication as a field of research : identifying trends, challenges and gaps by analysing research papers. JCOM: Journal of Science Communication, 16(02):1-19, doi:10.22323/2.16020202.The original publication is available at https://jcom.sissa.itResearch in the field of science communication started emerging about 50 years ago and has since then matured as a field of academic enquiry. Early findings about research-active authors and countries reveal that scholarly activity in the field has traditionally been dominated by male authors from English-speaking countries in the West. The current study is a systematic, bibliographic analysis of a full sample of research papers that were published in the three most prominent journals in the field from 1979 to 2016. The findings reveal that early inequities remain prevalent, but also that there are indications that recent increases in research outputs and trends in authorship patterns ― for example the growth in female authorship ― are beginning to correct some of these imbalances. Furthermore, the current study verifies earlier indications that science communication research is becoming increasingly institutionalised and internationalised, as demonstrated by an upward trend in papers reflecting cross-institutional collaboration and the diversity of countries where authors are based.https://jcom.sissa.it/archive/16/02/JCOM_1602_2017_A02Publisher's versio

Editorial: Helping Scientists to Communicate Well for all Considered: Strategic Science Communication in an Age of Environmental and Health Crises

From documenting evidence-based science communication training programs to examining issues of intersectionality and inclusivity in science communication, each of the 12 articles in this special issue offers a unique perspective on science communication, public engagement, and inclusivity. The case studies of training programs provide helpful lessons learned that have broad applicability. The descriptions of how social scientific and rhetorical approaches have been used to enhance inclusive science communication offer new insights into more effective science communication practices. Our hope is that, taken together, these articles will inspire improvements in our collective ability to more effectively and equitably apply scientific research to meet societal needs

Achieving Public Understanding of Research in Developing Countries

This set of webpages documents a workshop on "Achieving Public Understanding of Research in Developing Countries." The goal of the workshop was to explore differences between how "public understanding of science" is perceived in the developed world and how it might be perceived and defined in the developing world. We were particularly interested in whether theoretical ideas about public understanding emerging from recent work in the developed world would have any relevance in the developing world. The initial proposal contains a full discussion of these issues and is included in the document. The workshop was held in Cape Town, South Africa, immediately following the 7th International Conference on Public Communication of Science and Technology, "Science Communication in a Diverse World." The workshop brought together more than 50 people from 16 countries on 6 continents.U.S. National Science Foundation, grant INT 022120

Pandem-icons — exploring the characteristics of highly visible scientists during the Covid-19 pandemic

The Covid-19 pandemic escalated demand for scientific explanations and guidance, creating opportunities for scientists to become publicly visible. In this study, we compared characteristics of visible scientists during the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic (January to December 2020) across 16 countries. We find that the scientists who became visible largely matched socio-cultural criteria that have characterised visible scientists in the past (e.g., age, gender, credibility, public image, involvement in controversies). However, there were limited tendencies that scientists commented outside their areas of expertise. We conclude that the unusual circumstances created by Covid-19 did not change the phenomenon of visible scientists in significant way

Acute Kidney Injury after Bone Marrow Transplantation in Patients with Lymphomas and Leukemias

Introduction: Hematologic malignancies, including lymphomas and leukemias, may be treated with autologous or allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. However, these approaches can increase the risk of infection, sepsis, graft-versus-host disease, and nephrotoxicity, possibly resulting in acute kidney injury (AKI). Objective: To evaluate AKI in patients with lymphomas or leukemia submitted to bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Method: Retrospective, observational cohort study of cases from a database of 256 patients (53.9% males) hospitalized for BMT between 2012 and 2014 at a cancer hospital in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Of these, 79 were selected randomly for analysis. Demographic data, length of hospitalization, and associated morbidities were recorded. AKI was identified according to Kidney Diseases Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) criteria. Results: The most frequent diagnoses for the 79 cases were non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (30.4%), acute myeloid leukemia (26.6%), and Hodgkin’s lymphoma (24.1%). The probability of 100 days-survival after BMT was 81%, and three years after BMT was 61%. In-hospital mortality was significantly higher among patients who presented AKI during hospitalization (p<0.001). However, there was no difference in overall life expectancy (p=0.770). Conclusion: A significant prevalence of AKI was found in patients with leukemia or lymphoma while they were hospitalized for BMT, resulting in significantly increased rates of in-hospital mortality. The presence of AKI during hospitalization was not associated with a subsequent reduction in life expectancy

Synthesis of sodium-zinc spinel ferrites

The synthesis of spinel ferrites with composition Zn1-2xNaxFe2+xO4has been performed and the composition range in which single phase samples are obtained has been defined. The characterization of the samples has been carried out from atomic absorption and X-ray fluorescence analyses, X-ray diffraction patterns, Mössbauer spectroscopy and thermomagnetic measurements. It is show that significant loss of Na does exist when the synthesis is performed at high temperatures. When the Na volatilization is avoided spinel oxides with Na content up to 0.25 atoms per unit formula can be obtained. In this case the increase of the interatomic distances leads to differing fundamental magnetic properties as compared to the equivalent lithium-zinc ferrites

From top scientist to science media star during COVID-19 – South Africa's Salim Abdool Karim

CITATION: Joubert, M. 2020. From top scientist to science media star during COVID-19 – South Africa's Salim Abdool Karim. South African Journal of Science, 116(7/8):Art. #8450, doi:10.17159/sajs.2020/8450.The original publication is available at https://www.sajs.co.zaAround the world, the COVID-19 pandemic has turned a handful of leading scientists into highly visible public figures. Anthony Fauci is the media star in the USA; Roberto Burioni in Italy; and in Sweden, it is Anders Tegnell. In Germany, Christian Drosten has become a household name, while Hugo Lopez-Gatell is highly visible in Mexico. In South Africa, we witnessed a remarkable surge in the public prominence of Professor Salim Abdool Karim following his appointment, in mid-April 2020, to lead a Ministerial Advisory Committee advising government on combating COVID-19. Data from Pear Africa, a South African media monitoring company, show that Abdool Karim featured in 545 print, broadcast and online media items during April 2020, compared with 20 in April 2019. Tracing Abdool Karim’s journey towards becoming a trusted public voice of science on COVID-19 reveals meaningful insights into the relationships between scientists, policymakers and the South African public. It also illustrates how Abdool Karim follows an international cultural trend whereby charismatic scientists approach celebrity status under certain conditions, giving them unique power in shaping public trust in science.1 For this case study, I explored the characteristics of Abdool Karim’s engagement with the South African public during the COVID-19 pandemic in the light of two key dimensions of quality in science communication, namely ‘visibility’ (including accessibility) and ‘credibility’ (encompassing expertise, trust and relevance). Both are needed for people to make decisions about costs, risks, benefits and ethics.2 Furthermore, I considered the effect of his communication skill (efficacy) and his willingness to engage (attitude).https://www.sajs.co.za/article/view/8450Publisher's versio