Dipartimento di Culture, Politica e Società

Descrizione del progetto

The object of the research are the activities of public communication of the Italian scientists to differentiated publics of non-experts and users of science and their critical issues (such as trust, ethic problems, open access), in the theoretical perspective of STS (Science and technology studies) and  with practical reference to the ‘third mission’ of Universities. A panel of researchers in public University and institutions has been created and periodical cawi surveys are submitted. Qualitative case studies are also implemented on problematic issues in the communciation of science: non academic education, conflict among experts, public opinion, decisionmakers (in the cases of l’Aquila earthquake, of nuclear reactors,  and of  a few  border line therapies that are promoted by media but nor recognized by the scientific community), scientist-bloggers.

Obiettivo del progetto è indagare le attività di comunicazione degli scienziati italiani con i diversi pubblici di non esperti e di utilizzatori della scienza e le loro criticità (fiducia, questioni etiche, condizoni di fattibilità), nella prospettiva teorica dei Science and Technology Studies e in quella pratica della ‘terza missione’ della Università. E’ stato creato un panel di ricercatori dell’Università e dei centri di ricerca pubblici cui vengono sottoposte periodiche survey cawi. Sono stati impostati studi di caso qualitativi su momenti critici della comunicazione pubblica della scienza: nella formazione extra-accademica e scolastica, in circostanze di conflitto tra esperti, politica, opinione pubblica come quelle createsi col terremoto de l’Aquila e nel rapporto tra scienziati, medici, pazienti, media a seguiti di scoperte non riconosciute dalle comunità scientifica ma fortemente comunicate dai media.

Risultati e pubblicazioni

First results are communicated in these conferences:

R.Carriero e G.Tipaldo

1. 2013 July 15-19, Researchers’ attitudes towards ethically controversial issues in scientific practice. A vignette factorial survey approach,5th Conference of the European Survey Research Association, Ljubljana, Slovenia [P R]

2. 2013 August 28-30, Researchers’ attitudes towards ethically controversial issues in scientific practice. A vignette factorial survey approach, 11th Conference of the European Sociological Association “Crisis, Critique and Change”, University of Turin, Turin,Italy [P R]

R.Carriero, G.Tipaldo e S.Scamuzzi

3. 2013 August 28-30, Who’s opening the “ivory tower”? Italian scientists’ engagement in society, 11th Conference of the European Sociological Association “Crisis, Critique and Change”, University of Turin, Turin, Italy [P R]

G.Tipaldo, A.Pizzo e S.Agnella

4. 2013 August 28-30, When Science trembles. Science, Politics, Media and Society in the case of the Italian scientists conviction for the earthquake in L’Aquila, 11th Conference of the European Sociological Association “Crisis, Critique and Change”, University of Turin, Turin, Italy [P R]

Agnella S. e Scamuzzi S.,

How and why scientists communicate with society: the case of physics in Italy, PCST - Quality, Honesty and  Beauty in Science and Technology Communication - Firenze, 18-20 aprile 2012