Science communication and information dissemination: the role of the information professional in the "Perception and Awareness of Science" project

The paper reports on the methodology and results of a project on the perception and awareness of science, carried out by the Italian National Research Council, the British Council Italy and the Rosselli Foundation. The project, addressed to upper high school and university students, aims to clarify understanding of the interaction between science and society both by means of information and communication technologies (ICT) and by means of public debates with scientists. Different obstacles encountered by the actors involved in the project are also outlined. Three topics have been chosen to stimulate public debate: GMOs, electromagnetic pollution and space exploration. The authors discuss the innovative methodology and the key stages involved in this process of awareness. Each public debate envisages four key steps: (i) setting up and supplying students with scientific documentation on a selected topic in electronic format, in order to highlight the potential of the internet in the process of information dissemination and how it can be effective in a project of science communication to the public; (ii) informed debate in the classroom between teachers and students on the chosen topic; (iii) public debate with Italian and British scientists; and (iv) a final report to be drawn up by the students.