This Article Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 0963662506067660v1 17/3/349    most recent References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Martín-Sempere, M. J. Articles by Rey-Rocha, J. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Scientists' motivation to communicate science and technology to the public: surveying participants at the Madrid Science Fair

Spanish Council for Scientific Research (CSIC), Joaquin Costa 22, 28002 Madrid, Spain, sempere{at}cindoc.csic.es

Belén Garzón-García

Group for Scientific Activity Studies, Spanish Council for Scientific Research (CSIC)

Jesús Rey-Rocha

Group for Scientific Activity Studies, Spanish Council for Scientific Research (CSIC)

This paper investigates what motivates scientists to communicate science and technology in a science event involving a direct relationship and interaction with the public. A structured questionnaire survey was administered through face-to-face interviews to 167 research practitioners (researchers, technicians, support staff and fellows) at the Spanish Council for Scientific Research (CSIC) who participated in the Madrid Science Fair in the years 2001 to 2004. The motivations of members in each professional category are discussed. The most important motivations have to do with the desire to increase the public's interest in and enthusiasm for science, the public's scientific culture, and public awareness and appreciation of science and scientists. Senior researchers were also highly motivated by a sense of duty. Personal satisfaction and enjoyment were important motivations for younger scientists. This research will help to understand the mechanisms of scientists' motivation, and thus foster and encourage greater and better participation in events of this kind.

Key Words: public communication of science and technology • role of scientists • motivation • science fairs.

This version was published on July 1, 2008

Public Understanding of Science, Vol. 17, No. 3, 349-367 (2008)
DOI: 10.1177/0963662506067660


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?