Is Science Effectively Conveyed to the Public? A Case Study of Genetically Modified Mosquito Release
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47611/jsrhs.v10i4.1972Keywords:
Science Communication, Science Literacy, News Media, Survey, Science AccessibilityAbstract
Science is the driving force behind the advancement of society making public engagement with science vital. With the rapid pace of scientific discoveries, the availability of well-balanced scientific information is possibly the most important it has ever been. This study aims to determine the effectiveness with which scientific information is disseminated to the public. This was done by conducting a survey in which people were given three articles to read about the release of genetically modified mosquitoes. These three articles were adapted from local news coverage, government authorities, and peer-reviewed scientific literature. Survey participants were queried on their relative preferences for these articles. Additionally, the top 100 hits on Google for the search item “Florida mosquito release” were analyzed to assess the availability of the scientific information preferred by survey respondents. The results of this study showed that the public seeks quality, balanced scientific literature but that these types of articles aren’t easily accessible. Articles that prioritize getting clicks are more prevalent than those that present balanced scientific research.
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Copyright (c) 2021 Kailash Vemuri; N. Murti Vemuri, Ph.D, Sita Munukutla
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