Routledge Handbook of Public Communication of Science and Technology

Communicating science and technology is a high priority of many research and policy institutions, a concern of many other private and public bodies, and an established subject of training and education. In the past few decades the field has developed and expanded significantly, both in terms of professional practice, and in terms of research and reflection.

The Routledge Handbook of Public Communication of Science and Technology provides a state-of-the-art review of this fast-growing and increasingly important area, through examination of research done on the main actors, issues and arenas involved.

In this brand new revised edition, the book brings the reviews up-to-date and deepens the analysis. As well as substantial re-working of many chapters, it gives more attention to digital-media and global aspects of science communication and includes four new chapters. Several new contributors are added to the leading mass communication scholars, sociologists, public relations practitioners, science writers and others featured here.

With key questions for further discussion highlighted in each chapter the handbook is a student-friendly resource and its scope and expert contributors mean it is also ideal for both practitioners and professionals working in the field. Combining the perspectives of different disciplines and of different geographical and cultural contexts, this original text provides an interdisciplinary, as well as a global approach to public communication of science and technology. It is a valuable resource for students, researchers, educators and professionals in media and journalism, sociology, history of science, and science and technology.

Massimiano Bucchi is Professor of Science and Technology in Society and of Science Communication at the University of Trento, Italy, and has been visiting professor in several academic and research institutions in Asia, Europe and North America. His publications include Science in Society (Routledge 2004), Beyond Technocracy. Citizens, Politics, Technoscience (Springer 2009) and essays in journals such as Nature, Science and Public Understanding of Science.

Brian Trench is a researcher and trainer in science communication, formerly Head of the School of Communications, Dublin City University, Ireland. He has published widely on topics in science communication and science in society and given talks and courses in many countries. He has served on advisory committees to government, state agencies, higher education and cultural institutions in science communication, research ethics and evaluation.

Massimiano Bucchi and Brian Trench are members of the scientific committee of the international Public Communication of Science and technology (PCST) network and are co-editors of Critical Concepts in Sociology: Science Communication (Routledge, 2015, Major Works series).