Royal Society calls for better communication

URL: http://www.nature.com/cgi-taf/DynaPage.taf?file=/nature/journal/v408/n6813/full/408632a0_fs.html

Date accessed: 06 February 2001

[ LONDON] Britain's Royal Society is to spend £1 million (US$1.5 million) on encouraging scientists to communicate more effectively with the public.

Details of the Science and Society programme remain to be thrashed out, but it will be headed by Paul Nurse, director-general of the Imperial Cancer Research Fund. He has asked outside consultants to evaluate and cost different ways of communicating science to the public. Their report is expected later this month.

Projects may include communication training for scientists, awards for researchers who explain their work to a wider audience, and links between science museums and research agencies. The five-year initiative was announced last week by the society's outgoing president, Aaron Klug, in his farewell address, and will be paid for by a grant from the Kohn Foundation.

Category: 39. General Issues About Research