Thinking and doing beyond science and risk communication as mere transmission
Article

I look back on my professional experience as both bench and social scientist, and examine my misunderstandings of science communication as a field, which were fueled by my ideologically-driven stance on the primacy of the bench sciences over all other fields of study. I begin with my work as a molecular biologist, continue with my socialization into the social sciences at the PhD level, and narrate my experiences as a researcher attempting to break down the notion of science and risk communication as mere vessels for sharing scientific information. I do this by discussing my research findings, and then ruminating on their meaning for the fields of science and risk communication. These fields must grow beyond their preoccupation with the centrality of scientific data in communication by 1) recognizing the ideological force exerted by such a stance, and 2) acknowledging the many voices of society that allow communication to be a complicated, and yet fruitful enterprise.