Erica Palma Kimmerling, ASTC’s Senior Advisor for Science Engagement Policy and Partnerships, contributed to this post. In her previous role as the Hellman Fellow for Science and Technology Policy at the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, Erica’s primary work was the Public Face of Science project.
In 2016, the American Academy of Arts & Sciences launched The Public Face of Science initiative—an effort to better understand the complex and evolving relationship between science and society, and examine how trust in science is shaped by individual experiences, beliefs, and engagement with science.
Last week’s blog post explored insights from the initiative’s first two publications, Perceptions of Science in America and Encountering Science in America. On August 18, the Academy released the third and final report in the series, The Public Face of Science in America: Priorities for the Future. (Free printed copies of the publication are available on request through a link on the publication page.)
Priorities for the Future outlines a series of critical factors, goals, and actions that have the potential to strengthen the connections between science and society. The report identifies three priority areas for change that can shape attitudes toward science and people’s experience with it:
- Building capacity for effective science communication and engagement in the scientific community
- Shaping the narrative around science
- Developing systemic support for science engagement efforts
There are many stakeholders that can act to make progress on these priorities, and the report names roles that these groups can play based on their capacity for impact. . . .