The New Models Of Science Communication

Twentieth century was a period of brilliance and turbulence in the history of mankind,in which the society was changing faster than ever before. These were closely related to the development of science and technology which has been playing a revolutionary and creative role in many areas of society and becoming increasingly integrated with the social systems.Science communication, as an important bridge between science and society,not only include internal communication in scientific community and popularize science and technology towards the society, but also include deliver knowledge in education system and consult by decision-making department.Nowadays,science communication is becoming perform more and more important function on the building of innovative society which is backed with the creative of science and technology.In1939, JD Bernal,a famous British scholar, suggested that we need think about science communication seriously and holistically. Since science communication plays a positive role in promoting technological innovation and social development, governments around the world have been paying high attention to the development of science communication, and actively promoting it——by the ways of developing national strategies and optimizing the public understanding of science and raise people’s scientific literacy——to make the country more innovative and more internationally competitive However, with the ages of Big Science coming, the changs of knowledge production pattern are synchronistic with social transformation, and the interaction of science and society become more closely. More technical risk are caused by the uncertainty of knowledge which can produce negative effect on our social environment and public health.The recent series of incidents, such as BSE, nuclear leakage and human cloning, shook public confidence in science and technology. Some people even questioned the research field of bioengineering and information technology. Crisis of confidence have had such a great influence on the development of science that make the relationship between science and society be reviewed and the connotation of science communication be expended and evolved.In the initial stages, science communication manifested as an assumption was called "default model". Because no matter at the traditional popular science work in domestic, or in the early public understanding of science movement and citizens’ scientific literacy survey in Europe and America, science was considered perfect and accurate while public is ignorant and doubtless.But the attitude of public towards science depend on the level of public’s understanding.So scientists believe that if public could understand science more well, they would have higher scientific literacy and more support development of science.However,many facts and studies show that:this science communication model neither has theoretical nor realistic basis. In the ages of uncertain knowledge, it does not help to the balanced and sustainable development of science and social and do against to build mutual trust relationship between public and scientist,too.Therefore, the public understanding of scientism in traditional connation of science communication should be criticized, but the importance of scientific reflection and public participation should be emphasized, science popular in traditional function should be improved, some new function like social contexts, democratic policy-making and public service should be expanded.In the context of knowledge production pattern changes and social transformation, science communication gradually occurs a series of change,which include developing from traditional popularize science to modern universally beneficial science.and turn from public understanding of science to public participation in science (dialogue and decision), and transit from communicator-centered ("default model") to recipient-centered ("contexts model" and "democratic model"). These changes make science communication realize positive response and effective feedback from society to science.Meanwhile it could achieve scientific social construction and public governance. These not only provide more approaches for interaction and risk-control between science and society, also provide guarantee for the building of National Innovation Systems and public science service system.Today, knowledge society is parallel with risk society,the new modelof science communication——"contexts model" and "democratic model"——are taking shape.They represent the general trend of science communication and would have forceful guidance for the current social practical of public participation in science dialogue and decision.They also could provide support to promote the popular science career and public understanding of science, to improve citizen’s scientific literacy and national innovation systems, to build public science service system for scientists smooth relations with public and for science establish positive interaction with society.