© 1998 by Oxford University Press
Scientists may doubt the public's grasp of -- or even interest in -- science, but they firmly believe it is important to communicate scientific findings. An issue on which they disagree, however, is whose job it is to deliver that information -- the government, advocacy groups, academic institutions, or themselves.
These were among the insights gained during two sets of focus groups conducted by the National Cancer Institute: One set was conducted with 32 scientists attending the 1998 annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research and the other with 29 scientists working at the NCI.
Permeating all the focus group discussions was the problem of science illiteracy. As one NCI scientist said, "The bigger issue in this country is that science literacy [among the public] is declining."
Refresher Course
This view, that the American public could stand a refresher course in high school science, has been documented before. A 1997 quiz given by researchers for the National Science Foundation as part of a larger survey to determine how much American adults know about basic science issues revealed that only 48% of respondents knew that it takes the Earth 1 year to orbit the sun; only 11% could define a molecule.
Also, results of NCI focus groups and a national survey in 1996 (see News, March 5, 1997) showed that the public lacks an underlying knowledge of basic scientific concepts, of what science has achieved, of how research is done, and why certain projects are funded.
Participants in the scientist focus groups also referred to the public's lack of interest in science. Interestingly, this perception is not congruent with the findings of other studies, which indicated a high level of public interest in and support for medical and cancer research.
When asked who is responsible for delivering scientific messages to the public, most NCI scientists mentioned federal and state/local governments, public interest or advocacy groups, professional organizations, and universities. By contrast, many cancer researchers at the AACR meeting emphasized that scientists themselves are responsible for communicating biomedical findings to the public.
"If we think our duties are discharged by working with our molecules and not coming out and telling people what we do and how important it may be to them, then [the public] will continue to believe that we're not getting anywhere and that cancer should have been licked years ago," said one AACR scientist.
Many cancer researchers, particularly those working outside NCI, are interested in honing their communication skills. Given the proper training and tools, they believe they can bridge the gap between their specialized concerns and the general interests of the press.
"By informing the public about medical progress and the scientific method, research scientists ultimately will improve public understanding," said Ellen Eisner, director of the 1996 and 1997 consumer and scientist research. "The public, in turn, will become more educated and better able to make informed health decisions based on what they read or see in the media."
Barriers
Participants in the focus groups mentioned significant barriers that prevent scientists from addressing the public directly. These included: lack of personal interest, time, communication skills, and encouragement from administrators; fear that the public will not understand the scientific findings; and lack of knowledge by the public that scientific progress occurs in small increments.
Participants in the scientist focus groups also discussed their hesitancy to interact with the media because of the media's hype of "breakthroughs" and "cures." Participants stated that the media often report findings prematurely, out of context, in an oversimplified manner, and according to a preconceived agenda.
Scientists in the focus groups provided the following suggestions to improve communication:
"Communicating science to the public can occur on numerous levels," said Pat Newman, chief of NCI's Mass Media Branch, who is translating some of the focus group findings into action. "Whether it's attending career day at an elementary school, writing an editorial in response to an article that appeared in a local newspaper, or appearing on a radio talk show or a national television program, each of these individual efforts can help. Every scientist can share their passion for their work and bolster the public's understanding."
(For copies of the studies titled, "The Public's Perception of Medical and Cancer Research" and "Scientists' Views on Communicating Cancer Research," please contact NCI's Office of Cancer Communications' Health Promotion Branch, 301-496-6667.)
Communicating Science to the Public: Whose Job Is It Anyway?
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