← Module 8: Science and Society

NSWInvestigating ScienceSyllabus dot point

Inquiry Question 3: What are the responsibilities of scientists in regards to the communication and use of their research?

Investigate how scientific knowledge is communicated to the public, including the role of mass media, science journalists and expert bodies

A focused answer to the HSC Investigating Science Module 8 dot point on science communication. Covers the role of journalists, expert bodies, social media, the Conversation, ABC Science, common pitfalls, and worked HSC past exam questions.

Generated by Claude OpusReviewed by Better Tuition Academy5 min answer

Have a quick question? Jump to the Q&A page

What this dot point is asking

NESA wants you to evaluate how scientific research is communicated to the public, identify strengths and weaknesses of different communication channels, and discuss the responsibilities of scientists and journalists. This dot point appears in 4 to 7 mark questions in most papers.

The answer

Scientific knowledge becomes social knowledge through communication. Mass media (television, newspapers, websites and social media) is the main channel through which most people encounter research. The quality of that channel shapes public understanding and policy.

The role of mass media

Television and radio
Long-form science programming reaches broad audiences. The ABC's Catalyst (1990s onwards) and Radio National's All in the Mind, The Science Show and the Health Report are key Australian examples. Commercial television rarely covers science in depth.
Newspapers and online
Major newspapers maintain (or once maintained) science desks. Australian outlets include the Sydney Morning Herald, the Age, the Guardian Australia, ABC News and the Conversation.
The Conversation
A unique Australian innovation, founded at the University of Melbourne in 2011, that connects researchers directly to public audiences. Academics write under editorial guidance and the content is freely republished under Creative Commons. The Conversation now operates internationally and has been a major shift in academic-to-public communication.
Social media
Platforms (Twitter/Bluesky, Mastodon, TikTok, YouTube) allow direct researcher-to-public engagement but also amplify misinformation. Algorithmic feeds reward emotional and contrarian content. Quality and dross are mixed.
Podcasts
A growing channel. Cosmic Vertigo (ABC), The Health Report, Science Friction and academic podcasts allow long-form, nuanced communication.

Strengths of mass media communication

Reach
Mass media reaches audiences that academic publication never does. ABC Science attracts millions of weekly engagements; the Conversation Australia has tens of millions of readers per year.
Translation
Good science journalists distil complex findings into accessible language without losing accuracy.
Accountability
Investigative journalism can expose scientific misconduct. Brian Deer's BMJ exposé of Wakefield in 2011 was the model case.
Public engagement
Citizen-science projects (Bird Counts, FrogID, Galaxy Zoo) recruit the public into research, building literacy.
Expert sourcing
Quality outlets cite multiple expert sources, helping readers see the range of views.

Weaknesses of mass media communication

Over-simplification
Newspaper headlines reduce nuanced findings to single claims, often omitting confidence intervals and limits.
Cherry-picking
Eye-catching findings (cancer cure, miracle diet) are amplified; routine but important confirmatory work is ignored.
False balance
Giving equal airtime to fringe views misleads audiences about the strength of consensus. This was a major problem in climate change coverage in the 1990s and 2000s.
Click-driven incentives
Online platforms reward sensational claims. Misleading content is rewarded by algorithms before quality content can be produced and verified.
Conflict of interest
Some outlets have ownership or editorial alignments that shape coverage. The Murdoch press in Australia has consistently published climate-sceptical opinion columns.
Speed
Newsroom deadlines limit time for verification. Press releases from universities can be over-claimed and journalists may not have time to consult independent experts.
Social media misinformation
Anti-vaccine, anti-climate-action and conspiracy content can outpace corrections. The Wakefield narrative continues circulating despite the 2010 retraction.

Roles in the communication chain

Researchers
Have a responsibility to communicate their findings clearly, declare uncertainty, and engage the public.
Press officers
University and institute communications staff produce press releases. Quality varies; some over-claim findings to attract media attention.
Journalists
Should verify claims with independent experts, contextualise findings and avoid false balance.
Editors and producers
Make final decisions about emphasis, headlines and prominence.
Audiences
Citizens need scientific literacy to evaluate claims critically.

Each link in the chain can introduce distortion or correction.

Expert bodies

Australia has multiple bodies that synthesise and communicate scientific knowledge:

  • CSIRO. Public communications across all its research domains.
  • Australian Academy of Science. Position statements, public lectures, the Nova program for schools.
  • NHMRC. Health guidelines and consumer information.
  • Bureau of Meteorology. Climate and weather communication.
  • Royal Society of NSW and similar bodies.

These provide trusted synthesis above the level of individual research papers.

Effective science communication: principles

1. Plain language
Avoid unnecessary jargon. The "Up-Goer Five" challenge writes about complex topics using only the 1,000 most common English words.
2. Acknowledge uncertainty
Communicate confidence intervals, replication status and the limits of evidence. The IPCC's explicit confidence language ("very likely," "high confidence") is a model.
3. Structure for understanding
Lead with the main finding, then context, then methodology, then implications.
4. Multiple channels
Different audiences are reached through different media.
5. Engage actively
Q&A, comments, social media interaction strengthen public understanding.
6. Anticipate misuse
Research that touches public policy (vaccination, climate, drug effects) needs proactive communication to prevent distortion.

Misinformation and what works against it

Pre-bunking
Inoculating audiences against common misinformation techniques (Lewandowsky and colleagues, including Australian-based researchers at UNSW).
Fact-checking
Independent fact-check operations (AAP FactCheck, RMIT/ABC Fact Check) verify claims.
Authoritative voices
Trusted experts (Norman Swan, Brendan Murphy, Anthony Fauci internationally) can counter misinformation.
Platform regulation
During COVID-19, platforms (Twitter, Facebook, YouTube) experimented with labelling and removing harmful misinformation. Effectiveness was mixed.
Education
School science education is the long-term foundation.

Australian success stories

The COVID-19 information landscape
Norman Swan's Coronacast (ABC) became a major source of trusted information. State chief health officers (Brett Sutton, Kerry Chant, Jeannette Young) became household names. Data dashboards (NSW Health, COVIDLive.com.au) democratised access to evidence.
The Conversation
Has demonstrably shifted Australian academic engagement with public discourse.
Climate communication
ClimateWorks Australia, Climate Council and the BOM produce accessible climate information.

Australian failures

Vaccine hesitancy carried over from Wakefield
Despite Australia's strong immunisation register and policy, anti-vaccination messages still circulate on social media.
Climate scepticism in some media
Persistent commercial-media platforming of climate scepticism, especially in opinion pages, has slowed public consensus despite scientific consensus.
Health-product advertising
Direct-to-consumer marketing of complementary medicines (homeopathic, herbal) often outpaces regulatory information.

Past exam questions, worked

Real questions from past NESA papers on this dot point, with our answer explainer.

2024 HSC6 marksEvaluate the role of mass media in communicating scientific research to the public.
Show worked answer →

A 6-mark answer needs the functions, the strengths, the weaknesses and a clear judgement.

Functions. Mass media (television, newspapers, websites, social media) is how most people encounter scientific findings. Journalists distil complex research, contextualise findings and publicise expert voices. Without journalism, scientific knowledge would remain largely inaccessible to non-specialists.

Strengths.

  • Reach. ABC Science reaches millions; the BBC and major newspapers have global audiences.
  • Translation. Good science journalists turn jargon into plain language.
  • Accountability. Journalists can hold researchers and institutions accountable, as Brian Deer did with Wakefield.
  • Expert sourcing. Quality outlets cite multiple expert sources, providing diverse perspectives.
  • Specialised outlets. The Conversation (founded 2011 at University of Melbourne) connects researchers directly to public audiences.

Weaknesses.

  • Over-simplification. Headlines reduce nuanced findings to single claims.
  • Cherry-picking. Eye-catching findings are amplified; routine confirmatory work is ignored.
  • False balance. Equal airtime to fringe views misleads on consensus topics.
  • Click-driven incentives. Sensational claims outperform careful coverage.
  • Conflict of interest. Some outlets have funding or editorial alignments that shape coverage (Murdoch and climate, for example).
  • Social media. Algorithmic amplification of misinformation outpaces correction.

Judgement. Mass media is essential for democratic science communication but vulnerable to distortion. Quality outlets (ABC Science, the Conversation, peer-reviewed media) outperform commercial click-driven sites. Scientific literacy in citizens (especially recognising the difference between peer-reviewed and other claims) is the best counter to misinformation.

Markers reward both strengths and weaknesses with named outlets, and an explicit overall judgement.

2021 HSC4 marksHow can scientists improve the communication of their research to the public?
Show worked answer →

A 4-mark answer needs the methods and the rationale.

1. Use plain language
Avoid unnecessary jargon. The Conversation requires academics to write for non-specialist audiences, and editors enforce clarity. Plain language increases comprehension without reducing accuracy.
2. Explain uncertainty honestly
Communicate confidence intervals, replication status and the limits of the evidence. Statements that "the science is settled" or "this study proves" mislead. The IPCC uses explicit confidence language (high, medium, low) to communicate uncertainty.
3. Engage through multiple channels
Press releases, social media, podcasts, public lectures, and direct engagement with policymakers. ABC Catalyst, the Conversation, RiAus and Australian Academy of Science podcasts all engage diverse audiences.
4. Develop scientific literacy in the public
Investing in school science programs, citizen science (BirdLife Australia, FrogID, the Australian Citizen Science Association) builds capacity to evaluate claims.
5. Take responsibility for misuse
When research is misrepresented, scientists should correct the record promptly. Letters to the editor, fact checks and Twitter/Bluesky threads can address misinformation.

Markers reward at least three methods with rationale and examples.

Related dot points