Communicating Biological Sciences Ethical and Metaphorical Dimensions

Recent scandals in the biosciences have highlighted the perils of communicating science leading many observers to ask questions about the pressures on scientists and the media to hype-up claims of scientific breakthroughs. Journalists, science writers and scientists themselves have to report complex and rapidly-developing scientific issues to society, yet work within conceptual and temporal constraints that shape their communication. To date, there has been little reflection on the ethical implications of science writing and science communication in an era of rapid change. Communicating Biological Sciences discusses the 'ethics' of science communication in light of recent developments in biotechnology and biomedicine. It focuses on the role of metaphors in the creation of visions and the framing of scientific advances, as well as their impact on patterns of public acceptance and rejection, trust and scepticism. Its rigorous investigation will appeal not only to science writers and scientists, but also to scholars of sociology, science and technology studies, media and journalism.

Preface; Chapter 1 CommunicatingSetting the Scene: Issues of Hype, Hubris and Humility in Science Communication and Citizen Part icipation; Chapter 2 How Journalism Can Hide the Truth about Science, Elmien Wolvaardt; Chapter 3 Technologies of Humility, Sheila Jasanoff; Part II Science Communication, Ethics and Framing; Chapter 4 The Ethics of Framing Science, Matthew C. Nisbet; Chapter 5 Bioethical Decisions and the Public Sphere, Christoph Rehmann-Sutter; Chapter 6 Journalism and Society, Toby Murcott; Chapter 7 Science Communication and Ethics – Trying to Get it Right, Fox Fiona; Part III Science Communication, Metaphors and Practical Realities; Chapter 8 Genes, Genomes and What to Make of Them, Turney Jon; Chapter 9 A Workbench View of Science Communication and Metaphor, Radford Tim; Chapter 10 Metaphor Contests and Contested Metaphors, Strauss Stephen; Part IV Science, Science Communication and Metaphor Analysis; Chapter 11 Should Scientists Advocate? The Case of Promotional Metaphors in Environmental Science, Larson Brendon; Chapter 12 Metaphors as Time Capsules, Hellsten Iina; Chapter 13 Breakthroughs and Disasters, Nerlich Brigitte; Chapter 14 Craig Venter and the Re-programming of Life, Balmer Andrew, Herreman Camille; EPILOGUE; Chapter 15 Blame Francis Bacon, Allyse Megan;

Brigitte Nerlich is a Professor of Science, Language and Society at the Institute for Science and Society, University of Nottingham, UK; Richard Elliott is a Postgraduate Research Student at the Institute for Science and Society, University of Nottingham, UK; Brendon Larson is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Environment and Resource Studies at the University of Waterloo, Canada