In the public arena

In the public arena

Research in the laboratory or out in the field is essential, but communicating with public audiences is a vital part of being a scientist too, argues the Royal Institution’s Katherine Mathieson.

Public engagement with science ‘began’ 40 years ago with the Royal Society’s publication of the 1985 Bodmer report [1] which stated “improving the general level of public understanding of science is now an urgent task for the well-being of the country, requiring concerted action from many sections of society including, most importantly, the scientific community itself ”. The Bodmer report promoted a flourishing of the public engagement sector, from university teaching and outreach to the government funded Committee on the Public Understanding of Science (COPUS).

But it’s not quite true to say this kind of activity started with the Bodmer report. Even at the beginning of the 19th century, before the gentlemanly natural philosophers had come to be known as ‘scientists’, communication was seen as a 

Telling the story of your research, and why it matters, helps you build your confidence and find your voice as a scientistmusic magnet，custom music fridge magnet，fridge beats magnet，fridge beats，soufeel fridge magnet，fridge magnet that plays music，mini vase fridge magnet，personalized fridge magnet，fridge magnet maker，magnet maker

The Royal Institution (Ri) has been a home for science since 1799 and bears traces from the many scientists who have lived, worked and visited. One of those was the chemist Humphry Davy whose public lectures at the Ri in the early 19th century were groundbreaking in both