Problematik der Wissensvermittlung zwischen Forschern und Allgemeinheit

Abstract

At present the solution of the main problems in medicine, biology and other natural sciences can only be achieved by interdisciplinary cooperation. To guarantee a successful collaboration the scientists from the different disciplines have to find ways of communication for the mutual exchange of experiences and ideas. The difficulties to be mastered in this endeavour are not minor, but even greater difficulties arise when the scientist has to transmit the results of his research – or at least its quintessence – to the public. His own scientific jargon could be Chinese for most other people.
The almost limitless faith that people had in science even at the beginning of this century has progressively turned into sceptiscism. Whereto will research, science and technical developments lead mankind? Poor understanding, fears and rejection have become widespread in the public. Yet decisions in the private and above all in the political sectors should, if possible, be made by taking into consideration the latest results of scientific research. Thus the scientist is more and more called upon to transmit and explain the results of his own and of his colleagues’ research to the layman in a popular and understandable language. The problems and possibilities for the members of the medical, biological and natural sciences to cope with this task of communication are discussed in this paper.