Social Sciences of Science Communication

A field that applies sociological and anthropological analysis to the practices, institutions, and effects of science communication—from museum exhibits and science journalism to social media influencers and public lectures. It examines how science communicators frame messages, how audiences interpret them, how trust in science is built or eroded, and how power relations shape who gets to speak for science. The social sciences of science communication ask: why do some science messages backfire? How does the medium affect the message? What are the social consequences of simplifying complex research? It moves beyond “deficit models” (public is ignorant) to understand communication as a two‑way, culturally embedded process.

Example: “Her research in the social sciences of science communication found that telling people ‘the science is settled’ often increased polarization, because it signaled that scientists were dismissing legitimate concerns rather than addressing them.”

Social Sciences of Science Communication by Abzugal Nammugal Enkigal April 16, 2026