Communicating Science: A Shared Responsibility

Malaysia faces increasing alienation of science in the community. While this is a global and multifaceted issue, science communication plays a pivotal role in making science more intuitive for the general public. Scientific communication requires brevity and accuracy—targeted to an interested audience hungry for details. Conversely, science communication requires conveying the bigger picture with clarity and impact—targeted to an audience that needs to be courted by an idea. The challenge for scientists and academics is to find a balance between details sufficient to carry the scientific “truth”, while appeasing the human desire for ease and simplicity. Critically, science communication is a powerful device to tackle the increasingly urgent challenge of sustaining scientific progress in a post-truth era. Here, I discuss the role of scientists, key elements of science communication, and propose instruction of Philosophy of Science and debate to equip scientists with the crucial skills required for impactful science communication.