Who does science communication reach?

In times of increasing problems caused by so-called fake news, populism, and attacks on science, it is more urgent than ever to enable everyone to participate in the discussion about science and its social embedding and the evaluation of new technologies in an informed manner. Global problems such as climate change, the security of modern societies, and the energy transition to renewables make evidence-based political and social discourse more necessary than ever before. Inclusive opportunities for participation and access to science are also the basis for personal decisions, for example on health issues or the use of technology, as well as for further education and career options. 

Although there is a growing number of communication and participation activities, science communication must face the reality that it does not reach all population groups or excludes some through the design of its offerings. This applies in varying degrees to all methods and media used, whether online or offline. Discriminatory societal structures are reproduced in science itself and in science communication – implicitly or explicitly.

In order to fulfill their social responsibility, scientific organizations must critically reflect on their communication strategies and measures and make them more diverse and inclusive. There are a multitude of explicit and implicit barriers as well as structural injustices that need to be dismantled. Overlapping dimensions of individual, structural, and social differences and similarities influence access.

However, the right to education is enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as is the prohibition of all forms of discrimination. All people have the right to “share in scientific advancement and its benefits.” Accordingly, it is not only a self-imposed task, but also a duty of science communication to enable this participation. 

A proposal for systematizing dimensions of exclusion and barriers

The systematization of dimensions of exclusion and barriers, as well as the recommendations formulated, are based on a research overview commissioned by the Science Communication Transfer Unit in Germany and compiled by Christian Humm, Philipp Schrögel, and Miriam Welz. The full report from November 2024 can be found on the Science Communication Transfer Unit website.

The framework has been developed through a hybrid deductive-inductive approach, merging two previous concepts with findings derived from a systematic literature review. One deductive foundation is an earlier typology of exclusion factors developed within the project “Wissenschaft für alle” (for which a similar, earlier poster exists). The other is the classification of diversity dimensions into layers, often represented as a diversity wheel. Diversity is understood as an umbrella term for distinguishing characteristics among individuals, condensing the spectrum of human variety into tangible dimensions such as gender, race, or age. Individual dimensions influence one another. Their combination makes each person unique, therefore individual personality lies at the core of the framework

The structure and composition from the research overview were further developed for this poster and comprise three levels:

Exclusion Dimensions

The dimensions of exclusion describe personal characteristics that distinguish people from one another and can lead to exclusion or discrimination. Some of these dimensions are integral parts of a person's identity and are difficult to change. Others can change over the course of a lifetime.

Barriers in science and science communication

These barriers stem directly from scientific institutions and communication practices. They represent exclusionary mechanisms that can be changed through modifications to offerings, communication formats, cultural change, and institutional approaches to public engagement.

Barriers in society, politics, and education

These barriers originate in overarching social, political, and educational structures that are beyond the direct control of science communication providers. They are broader in scope and represent structural exclusion mechanisms rooted in systemic inequalities. They can only be addressed indirectly through broader social interventions and political change. Even if individual communicators or science communication institutions cannot change them directly, they must nevertheless remain sensitive to these structural conditions.

About this graphic

The hidden object picture is aimed at actors in science and science communication and is intended to encourage them to reflect on their own communication based on the 30 identified dimensions of exclusion and barriers, as well as their impact on the inclusive design of offerings. The visualizations show examples of experiences of discrimination, diversity deficits, and symbolic representations of structural problems. The hidden object picture is supplemented by infographic elements that reflect selected statistical information. On the second page, an abridged version of all dimensions and barriers, as well as further information, is provided.

The PDF has been checked for accessibility, and the color palette used has also been carefully selected. However, we are aware that the inherent limitations of the ‘hidden object’ format may still present a barrier for some people. Apart from the supplementary statistical information, the key content on dimensions of exclusion and barriers is therefore also available as text on the second page of the document.

Imprint 

This poster is based on a research overview commissioned by the Transfer Unit in Germany, a joint project by the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities and Wissenschaft im Dialog (Science in Dialogue), funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space.

Research Overview (de): https://transferunit.de/thema/exklusion-in-der-wissenschaftskommunikation-fehlende-diversitaet-und-barrieren/

Authors: Philipp Schrögel, Miriam Welz & Christian Humm,

Design: Markus Färber (Artwork) & Michelle Soldato (Layout)

Contact: Philipp Schrögel, philipp.schroegel@hsw.tu-chemnitz.de