DEVC 50: Science Communication Reviewer

Science

is the systematic pursuit of reliable knowledge about natural phenomena and the social world.

Systematic pursuit

follows an order of knowing using scientific method.

Reliable

claims are true because it is justified by a reliable method.

Natural and social

it deals with the natural phenomena that affects the social world.

Science

is the art of knowing

Technology

is the art of knowing how

social life

The fruits of scientific research affect _______.

collective pursuit

The process of conducting scientific research is a __________.

No

Was science ONLY the source of truth?

Tradition or tenacity

relies upon "time-tested" results.

Tradition or tenacity

• Knowledge is gained through practical life experience.

• It assumes that "which bears fruit" and "work" is true.

• The establishment "truth" only applies in a particular phenomenon.

Intuition

derives truth simply through the process of introspection and immediate awareness.

Intuition

• Knowledge from intuition can come into the mind as known in itself.

• Draws from past experience and external cues to draw hasty conclusions - PRINCIPLES 

• Regarded by philosophers as the beginning of  knowledge, but the claim of truth lacks proof.

Authority

assumes that a person who is believed to be an expert of a field or discipline holds the truth.

Authority

• In early times, observations of wise men and women establish truth.

• During COVID-19, authorities were infectious disease experts, epidemiologists, and health officials.

Rationalism

truth based on reason and common sense.

Rationalism

• It assumes that what is logical and consistent is true.

• However, what at first may seem "logical" may turn out to be merely social/cultural convention.

Empiricism

make uses of the reason and logic of rationalism and adds evidence that can be systematically verified through observation.

Empiricism

• This approach assumes that "which I can prove to my senses is true"

• Empiricism issues:

  •  Phenomena are not easily observable due to the limit of our senses.

  •  Observable data takes on meaning by the way it is organized and interpreted, and this may introduce bias.

Science

• This way of knowing combines the use of reason, logic, and empirical evidence in a systematic manner.

• Claim of truth is derived from a scientific method.

Static and dynamic

Views of science

Static

• Science as body of facts

• Add systemized information

Dynamic

• Views science as an activity 

• Emphasizes problem-solving and interconnectedness of concepts to explain and predict.

Francis Bacon

Father of Scientific method

Scientific Method

Understanding of how the universe works was the first step towards mastering it and exploiting it to a man's knowledge.

1. Observe a phenomenon

2. Ask questions about the observations and the gather information

3. Form a hypothesis - a tentative description what's been observed and make predictions

4. Test hypothesis 

5. Analyze data and draw conclusion 

6. Reproduce experiment 

Steps of scientific phenomenon

1. Observing

2. Hypothesizing

3. Inferring

4. Interpreting data

Processes of science

Observing

using various senses in applying scientific method

Hypothesizing

making educated assumptions

Inferring

making sense put of an observation by explaining, classifying, or drawing a pattern; and

Interpreting data

providing meanings based on experiment of field of study.

1. Empirical

2. Operational

3. Propositional

4. Problem-solving

5. Public

6. On-going

Characteristics of science

Empirical

evidence is based on experience and observed reality

Operational

science involves processes, procedures, and activities

Propositional

science involves proposing hypothesis

Problem-solving

works towards a solution

Public

scientific work is published; tends towards a closure but is open-ended.

On-going

science feed on science

1. Reliability

2. Repeatability

3. Testability

4. Objectivity of results

Science requires these procedure to ensure

Reliability

research method produces stable and consistent results.

Repeatability

having produced one result from an experiment, you can try the same experiment, with the same setup, and produce that exact same results.

Testability

ability to run and experiment to test a hypothesis

Objectivity of results

free from biases

READ:

• Scientific knowledge is founded on evidence 

• Scientific knowledge can explain observations and predict events

• Scientific process requires peer scrutiny and acceptance by the scientific community

• Focuses on the natural world

• Aims to explain the natural world

• Uses testable ideas

• Relies on evidence 

• Involves the scientific community 

• Leads to on going research 

• Benefits from the scientific behavior

READ:

• Scientific knowledge is founded on evidence 

• Scientific knowledge can explain observations and predict events

• Scientific process requires peer scrutiny and acceptance by the scientific community

• Focuses on the natural world

• Aims to explain the natural world

• Uses testable ideas

• Relies on evidence 

• Involves the scientific community 

• Leads to on going research 

• Benefits from the scientific behavior

Pre-colonial period

Filipinos gage deep knowledge of science and engineering

Pre-colonial period

• Know how to make boats, use wind currents in travellings, and stars to guide the journey 

• Rich indigenous concepts in astronomy (constellations and the moon were used as basis for many things)

• Developed knowledge in agriculture and medicinal botany (Ifugao Rice Terraces)

Spanish Regime

Start of Modern S&T:

Spanish Regime

• Established schools for higher education, hospitals, pharmacy, and medicine 

• The oldest hospital built was in June 24, 1578 (Hospital Real de Manila San Juan de Dios Hospital)

• The oldest school was built in 1611 (University of Santo Tomas)

• Higher education institutions first offered courses on Theology, Philosophy, Humanities

• Hospitals were built which paved the way for starting rudimentary research on health; however, the focus is on looking for remedies rather than understanding the nature of the disease. 

• Studies on infection diseases started in the late 1800s

• Agriculture was slow to develop during the early colonial period

• The Real Sociedad Economica de Los Amigos del Pais de Filipinas under Governor Jose Basco y Vargas made a significant contribution to the research and development of agriculture, agricultural industry, and agricultural technology

• Meteorological Studies were done by Jesuits in the Manila Observatory  

• Invented in 1886, Padre Faura barometer (measures atmospheric pressure)

Hospital Real de Manila San Juan de Dios Hospital

What is the oldest oldest hospital built in June 24, 1578?

University of Santo Tomas

What is the oldest school built in 1611?

Agriculture

_______ was slow to develop during the early colonial period

Real Sociedad Economica de Los Amigos del Pais de Filipinas

The _______________ under Governor Jose Basco y Vargas made a significant contribution to the research and development of agriculture, agricultural industry, and agricultural technology

American Regime

Science rapidly developed during this time

American Regime

• 1901 — free primary education was established using English as the mode of instruction 

• 1902 — Secondary schools were improved; schools for teachers were also established

• Many Filipinos were sent abroad, particularly to the US, for further training through scholarships, fellowships, and faculty exchange program

• The aim of higher education was to train locals to fill the technical needs of the government and its services 

• Science research gained more support from the government 

• 1905 — The Bureau of Science was established, became the training ground for Filipino Scientists

• Other scientific bureaus Were established during its early part

• Scientific research further improved when the Scientific Research Council

• 1970s — Focus was redirected towards applied research in response to the need for SandT

• National Science Development Program was included in the government dev plan

• Science Journalism became a buzzword during the 70s

• Science clubs were established during these times, the first Asian Training Course for Leaders in the promotion of Public Understanding of Science, Technology, and Environmeny (PUSTE) was held in

• National Planetarium was established in 1975

1901

free primary education was established using English as the mode of instruction

1902

Secondary schools were improved; schools for teachers were also established

1905

The Bureau of Science was established, became the training ground for Filipino Scientists

1970s

Focus was redirected towards applied research in response to the need for S&T

National Planetarium

___________ was established in 1975

1980

Research utilization Was given stronger emphasis

1982

NSDB Was reorganized as the National Science and Technology Authority

1986

NSTA reorganized as DOST

2002

National Science and Technology Plan (2002 to 2020)

Pagtanaw 2050

__________ is a 30-year science, technology, and innovation foreign and strategic plan developed by DOST

Tiger Economy

The Philippine Economy is a _____

science and math

Philippines ranked lowest in _______

Dismal performance in Science and Math:

• The Second Congressional Commission on Education reported in 2024:

• The National Achievement Test (NAT) for Grade 6 (SY 2020-2021) shows that students have low proficiency in Math (41%), English (44%), and Science (44%)

• More learners are enrolling in higher educagion, but a large number of students are dropping out before completing their degrees

• Passing rates in the licensure examination for teachers (LET) have been low, and the quality assurances of teacher education institutions is weak

• Meager Budget for S&T + Budget Cuts

• Poor public appreciation of S&T

• Low science literacy even though people are interested

• S&T consciousness of Filipinos is low

• Lack of awareness and concerns about S&T

• Low level of education and S&T literacy

• Limited emphasis on the teaching of S&T 

• Science orientation in elementary And highschool is very abstract

• Students usually don't have hands-on explaining, this they cannot appreciate the application of those concepts;

• Math and Science Teachers sometimes lack the competence to teach those subjects, they cannot bring it down go a level where students can appreciate these subjects better

Challenged in S&T:

SCIENCE COMMUNICATION

• Communicating the product, content, and processes of science to various publics to promote Development 

• Communicating the: know what, know how, know why

• Vision: To develop a Science culture equipped to make informed choices regarding various science issues 

• A Development Communication Domain that looks at Communicating science to understand, appreciate, and apply science and the scientific process in a way that encourages stakeholders to participate

Information explosion

• Increase in S&T information has been exponential

• Information gas reached such gargantuan proportions that it has become extremely difficult today to cope

•  Challenge of how to manage information so that people will be able to find it and make use of it 

• Important since the productivity of any scientist depends on his ability to keep up-to-date 

Highly variable quality of science writing

• Publish or perish rule 

• In the race to get published, the quality is often sacrificed

• There are just too many accounts of duplication research going around 

• Journal titles have different levels of strictness in reviewing different levels of strictness in reviewing manuscripts and have different review process

Most scientific and technological findings require interpretation for other audiences

• Science must be communicated to the general public in terms they can understand and relate to

• The reason most people feel alienated from S&T is that they cannot understand technical jargon

The public has a right to know

• The Public has the right to know where their tax money is going vis-a-vis government spending on R&D

• They have to know how they will be affected by various policies related to S&T

• People have a right to know and understand various implications of different S&T issues

• People have a right to make informed choices through proper and prompt dissemination of information

Advent of powerful, high-speed electronic data and information processing tools

• Development in information technology has extended the capability of man to manage and disseminate S&T information

• Computers are increasingly being used to help manage the information explosion in S&T

Nature of Sci-com:

• Better Science literacy

• Increased appreciation and interest in science 

• Increased understanding of science 

• Use of science in practical Lice (problem-solving and decision making)

• Increased support for science

Basic competencies of a Science communicator

• Report discoveries or breakthroughs in context 

• Make science approachable

• Be confident and comfortable in approaching your sources

• Emphasize that science is a human enterprise

• Put your work through peer review 

• Explore ethical and political dimensions of science 

• Recognize that science is fun: it is a part of everyday life

Attributes of a science communicator:

• Passion for science + human implications

• Can distinguish selling science products vs Communicating science

• Can choose interesting angles

• Can write about science and make it interesting without distorting fact

• Willing go search relevant materials, synthesize, and make this digestible 

• Follows through developments of science issues

• “Someone who marries the excitement of communication with the seriousness of the science. The tricky part is getting the information right.”

1. Communication of research results

2. Communicating of science to improve science literacy and technological appreciation

3. Communication Among Scientists:

3 Areas of Science Communication:

Communication of research results

• Challenged us go improve the communication fesults of S&T research to its various publica

• Use print media; audiovisual media; broadcast media; and/or new communication technology including social media 

• Information must be translated into user friendly terms go benefit a wider audience

Communicating of science to improve science literacy and technological appreciation

• Goal of this area is to tell people develop a new attitude towards science

• A scientific attitude teachers tea he's us how go think and not what to think; it enables ordinary people to deal with various challenges using rational problem-solving methods

• Science literacy implies a greater appreciation of and engagement in various science issues

• Project NOAH

Communication Among Scientists

• Science communicators must understand how scientific communicate amongst themselves and how information flows between scientists 

• Science communicators play important roles in the growth of scientific knowledge; they help improve the dissemination of research results

• Scientists

• Technicians

• Policy makers

• General public

Audiences of Scicom:

Communication Among Scientists

• Domain that looks at how science communication facilitates the sharing of S&T information and information exchange among students

• To help sustain their intellectual productivity and facilitate the growth of scientific knowledge

• Must understand how scientists communicate among themselves and how information flows Among them

• Science communicators must understand how they can best aid scientists in their responsibilities and help them become more productive

1. Data

2. Information

3. Knowledge

4. Wisdom

Information Sources (DIKW Hierarchy)

Data

• Recorded empirical measurements or observation

• Collection of face in a raw/unorganized form, thus mean little or not important

• Come in Quantitative numbers, scales, or ranks/qualitative

Information

• Information is derived from data which have been organized, processed, and structured according to a purpose

Knowledge

• A stock of ordered information that has been analyzed, evaluated, and tested for a particular purpose 

• Answers the questions: How? How is this information relevant?

Wisdom

• Knowledge that is continually updated and enriched by the permanent combination with action/reality

• To get wisdom, we must answer the question: Why do something and Why Best

• Embodied In an individual/institutio

Fatal

is related to transaction processing systems

Information

is related to information management systems

Knowledge

corresponds with decision support systems

Wisdom

is related with expert systems

READ:

Importance of Scientific Information Management

• Improved capability to take advantage of knowledge and know-how

• Rationalization and systematization of country’s research and development efforts

• Wider knowledge base for solutions of problems

• Provide new alternatives and approaches for present technical problems and avoid future ones

• Improved effectiveness and efficiency of technical activities in the production and service sectors

• Generate better decision-making in all sectors

READ:

Importance of Scientific Information Management

• Improved capability to take advantage of knowledge and know-how

• Rationalization and systematization of country’s research and development efforts

• Wider knowledge base for solutions of problems

• Provide new alternatives and approaches for present technical problems and avoid future ones

• Improved effectiveness and efficiency of technical activities in the production and service sectors

• Generate better decision-making in all sectors

• Scientists

• Communication specialists and editors

• Information specialists

• Science communicators

Who are involved in S&T information?

• Access to information has a cost

• Often, the information is not complete

• Full context of information is not available 

• Information is only capable of “satisficing”

• Satisficing: Aiming only for a satisfying result 

• Information which cannot be found is useless

Is there such thing as perfect information:

• Information overload (causes omission or failure to attend to information)

• use of language or terminologies unfamiliar to users

• Information is presented in a form that is hard to follow 

• Information may not be trusted. This implies that the reliability and validity of information are questionable

Barriers to use of information:

1. People

2. Organizations

3. Literature/Documents

4. Information services/systems

Information management (sources):

People

possess required information which is not documented yet or those who have in-depth information on the subject. They are also slightly for further details of the information sought

Organization

Authority over classified information or have details of the information sought

Literature/Documents

Contains information sought