On the essence and necessity of public understanding of science

Abstract

This article discusses public understanding of science and the need for its increase and expansion as a function of public communication of science. In this study popularization of science is presented as a means for increasing Public Understanding of Science (PUS). In this article we argue that institutionalization for public communication of science is an urgent need for increasing PUS and we provide characteristics of the institute or system of science popularization for connecting the science community and the public sphere. Our study offers the reasons of science popularization and increasing of PUS with regard to the level of the development and the type of political system of societies. Also, this article explains how popularizing of science and production of popular science can lead to the formation of interdisciplinary sciences, relation between various scientific disciplines and university-industry connections. On the other hand, popular science introduces opportunities of engagement in the scientific societies and hence increases the social capital between Iranian elite.

Keywords

• science popularization public understanding of science public communication of science institutionalization popular science science literacy