Indagine sulla comunicazione della scienza nella ricerca - Prime elaborazioni CNR, INAF, INFN e Università

More than a decade after the publication of the Science and Society report by the House of Lords, which introduced concepts such as dialogue and public engagement that significantly contributed to change theories and practices of science communication, it seemed reasonable to take some time to reflect on the patterns of science communication that characterize the relation between scientists and member of the public. With this paper we would like to report the results of a survey circulated amongst a sample of Italian physicists who were asked to reflect on their relation with members of the public in light of their personal experiences and practices of communication. As it emerges from the pages that follow the respondents communicate science in many different ways that are not enclosed in fixed models of science communication circulated amongst academics, and on the contrary include a multiplicity of activities, opinions and forms of communication.