German think tanks urge focus on science communication

Public-engagement efforts marred by pressure to publish and lack of resources, report finds

Science communication in Germany is hampered by obstacles within the scientific system—including pressure to publish, few resources and a lack of value attached to such efforts, a report has found.

A survey published by the think tanks Science in Dialogue, the National Institute for Science Communication and the German Centre for Research on Science and Higher Education, said academics had too little time to talk to the public. They said that the government should fund more permanent positions for science communicators, encourage targets in the field and include the duty to communicate results in funding agreements.