The Importance of Communicating Science
Effectively (focusing on chemistry)
Dr Michael Edmonds
School of Applied Sciences and Allied Health
Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology
Application of science seldom involves a single
scientific discipline. Rather, it involves an interplay
of two or more of the core “sciences” – Chemistry,
Biology, Physics, as well as Mathematics and English.
Engineering and applied sciences such as psychology
draw on the core sciences.
Science is stronger when scientists and science
educators co-operate and work together.
Why is Understanding Science Important?
Better decision making on both a personal and a
societal level.
Medicine, transport, communications, agricultural
technology heavily involve science.
Popular culture does not encourage scientific/
rational thinking.
Predicted rise in irrational thinking.
New Scientist, 4th February 2009 regarding the
“credit crunch”
“Take the comforts away, however, and the
rationality often evaporates too. When human
beings lose control over their lives, they become
more prone to superstition, spiritual searchings and
conspiracy theories.”
Why is Understanding Science Important?
Many important world issues involve science
Climate change/global warming
Pollution
Sustainable drinking water/food supplies
Sustainable and clean energy sources
Obesity “epidemic”
Genetically Modified Organisms
Irradiated food
Evolution vs intelligent design
Safety of vaccines
“Science as a candle in the dark”
Carl Sagan
Why Communicating Science is Important
Less than 25% of the population have formally
studied science beyond year 10.
Less than 5% of the population have degree level
qualifications in science or related subjects.
Who Do We Need to Communicate Science to?
Who Do We Need to Communicate Science to?
EVERYONE
How Do We Best Communicate Science?
• Gently
• Positively
• Assertively
• Often
Need to challenge anti-scientific thinking and
sentiments
Present positive stories about science
How Do We Best Communicate Science?
• The WOW Factor
• Me, Me, Me, Me, Me
• Interactive
• Good Analogies
• Sense of Humour
• Deep Thinking
• Learning Techniques (e.g. Mnemonics)
How Do We Best Communicate Science?
The WOW Factor
• Practical/unusual demonstrations
• WOW online (Youtube)
Space – aurora borealis, water in space
• WOW facts
Bacterium that have evolved to digest nylon.
Light from distance stars tells us what they are
made of.
Drugs from marine organisms and rainforest plants.
Rapamycin – immunosuppressant drug
How Do We Best Communicate Science?
Me, Me, Me, Me, Me or how is science relevant to
me
• Would I be alive without chemistry?
• What would life be like without ……….?
• How might science/chemistry change your life in
10 years?
• What things that you use each day involve
chemistry?
How Do We Best Communicate Science?
Interactive
• Experiments
• Stimulates visual and kinesthetic learners
• Flash cards/games
• Interactive computer animations
• Youtube
How Do We Best Communicate Science?
Good Analogies
Analogies work by linking the unfamiliar with the
familiar.
Good analogies
• can be visualised
• familiar to students
• limitations are clear
Richard K. Coll – Chem Ed NZ February 2009
How Do We Best Communicate Science?
Sense of Humour
How Do We Best Communicate Science?
Sense of Humour
How Do We Best Communicate Science?
Deep Thinking
Activities that require more than “regurgitating”
information
• applying (to “real life”)
• analysing
• synthesising
• evaluating
How Do We Best Communicate Science?
Learning Techniques
• Visualisation
• Synesthesia
• Mnemonics
How Do We Best Communicate Science?
Learning Techniques
• Visualisation
• Synesthesia
• Mnemonics
How Do We Best Communicate Science?
Learning Techniques - Mnemonics
Methane
Ethane
Propane
Butane
Pentane
Hexane
How Do We Best Communicate Science?
Learning Techniques - Mnemonics
M
E
P
B
P
H
Threshold Concepts and Troublesome Knowledge
(Jay Land and Jan H. F. Meyer)
In any subject there are core concepts that often
prove challenging for the student.
Transform thinking, challenging, deep learning
In chemistry, what are these concepts?
Threshold Concepts and Troublesome Knowledge
(Jay Land and Jan H. F. Meyer)
In any subject there are core concepts that often
prove challenging for the student.
Transform thinking, challenging, deep learning
In chemistry, what are these concepts?
Threshold Concepts and Troublesome Knowledge
in Chemistry?
• Scientific Method
• Scale
• The Dynamic Molecule
• Equilibrium
The Scientific Method
Make Observation
Form a hypothesis to
explain the observation
Hypothesis
passes
test
Hypothesis
fails test
Test the hypothesis
(by experiment/observation)
Scale
Mole = 6.023 x 1023
Size of atom relative to proton and electron
Have students work out their own analogies
Moles, Molecules & Homeopathic Dilutions
1X dilution = 1/10
2X dilution = 1/10 x 1/10
3X dilution = 1/10 x 1/10 x 1/10
Assuming you start with a 1 mole solution at what
point will the solution no longer contain any active
component?
Concentrations & Homeopathic Dilutions
Assuming you start with a 1 mole solution at what
point will the solution no longer contain any active
component?
1 mole = 6.023 x 1023
A 24X solution has a ~60% chance of containing one
molecule
30X dilutions are commonly used in homeopathy
Concentrations & Drugs
If a tablet of panadol contains 500 mg of paracetamol,
how many moles of paracetamol is in a typical dose?
How many paracetamol molecules in a typical dose?
The Dynamic Molecule
http://www.ged.chem.ed.ac.uk/
Equilibrium
Engaging with Media
• Newspaper articles
• Letters to the Editor
• Online/Blogs
• Radio and Television
Challenging the Unscientific
“Homeopathy was an effective treatment during the
1918 influenza epidemic”
Challenging the Unscientific
“Homeopathy was an effective treatment during the
1918 influenza epidemic”
There are no rigorous scientific studies that show
homeopathy has more than a placebo effect.
There is no scientific mechanism to explain how ultradilute solutions could have any effect of the body
Challenging the Unscientific
Products that are “chemical free”
Natural is best
Challenging the Unscientific
Products that are “chemical free”
Nothing is chemical free
Natural is best
The deadliest poisons are those produced by nature
e.g. botulinum, anthrax, ricin, tetradotoxin
Supporting the Scientific
• Highlight new breakthroughs in science
(newspaper, New Scientist, Science, Nature)
• Join scientific organisations
• Attend scientific talks
• Foster secondary/tertiary links
• Encourage Science Fair entries
• Write articles/give talks
“We live in a society exquisitely dependent on science
and technology, in which hardly anyone knows anything
about science and technology.”
Carl Sagan
“A good teacher is like a candle - it consumes
itself to light the way for others. ”
Author Unknown