• Title/Summary/Keyword: Public Understanding of Science

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Science in Public: Theoretical Trends and Policy Issues (대중과 과학기술: 이론적 흐름과 정책적 이슈)

  • 송성수
    • Journal of Korea Technology Innovation Society
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    • v.6 no.2
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    • pp.137-158
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    • 2003
  • This paper examines theoretical trends and policy issues concerning science and public. The dominant perspective about it was changed from “popularization of science” to “public understanding of science (PUS)”. PUS pays attention to active roles of public in the understanding of science based on the contextual model. And recently various concepts are attempted to complement PUS such as “heterogeneous PUS”, “quantitative PUS”, “public understanding of research”, and “public participation in science”. PUS related activities in Korea can be analyzed using the concept of “science and technology culture system”. The characteristics of science and technology culture system in Korea can be summarized as follows: Its purpose is confined to support existing national innovation system; Its constituents have been unevenly and separately developed; Its material and institutional infrastructure is not sufficiently prepared; Its organizing mechanism is strongly influenced by government's execution power.

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Panel Session toward Improved Communication and Engagement with the Public after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant Accident: Study Reports and Discussion with Specialists from Relevant Fields

  • Yoshida, Hiroko;Kuroda, Yujiro;Kono, Takahiko;Naito, Wataru;Sakoda, Akihiro
    • Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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    • v.46 no.3
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    • pp.134-142
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    • 2021
  • Background: From 2018 to 2020, the Expert Study on Public Understanding after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant Accident (the Expert Study Group) identified and analyzed activities designed to promote public understanding of science and radiation since the Fukushima accident, and held discussions on how to achieve public understanding in the situation where public confidence has been lost, and how experts should prepare for dealing with the public. This panel session was held at the 53rd meeting of the Japan Health Physics Society on June 30, 2020. Materials and Methods: First, three subgroup (SG) leaders reported their research methods and results. Then, two designated speakers, who participated as observers of the Expert Study Group, commented on the activities. Next, the five speakers held a panel discussion. Finally, the rapporteur summarized. Results and Discussion: SG leaders presented reports from researchers and practitioners in health physics and environmental risks who provided information after the Fukushima accident. During the discussion, experts in sociology and ethics discussed the issues, focusing on the overall goals of the three groups, local (personal) and mass communication, and ethical values. Many of the activities instituted by the experts after the accident were aimed at public understanding of science (that is, to provide knowledge to residents), but by taking into account interactions with residents and their ethical norms, the experts shifted to supporting the residents' decision-making through public engagement. The need to consider both content and channels is well known in the field of health communication, and overlaps with the above discussion. Conclusion: How to implement and promote the public engagement in society was discussed in both the floor and designated discussions. Cooperation between local communities and organizations that have already gained trust is also necessary in order to develop relationships with local residents in normal times, to establish an information transmission system, and to make it work effectively.

Public Understanding of Cloning and Internet $\ddot{O}effentlichkeit$ (배아복제의 '공중의 이해'와 인터넷 공론: 2005년 5월 20일 황우석 교수의 배아줄기세포 연구성과 발표에 따른 생명윤리논쟁을 중심으로)

  • Suh Yi-Jong
    • Journal of Science and Technology Studies
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    • v.5 no.1 s.9
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    • pp.125-148
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    • 2005
  • This paper deals with public understanding of the stem cell cloning discussed in the Internet, based upon the case study of public discourse about Dr. Hwang's international publication of an advanced research of Stem Cell in Korean context. Public understanding of the stem cell cloning in Korea is characterized as follows: (1) it was defined as therapeutic cloning, (2) it was legitimized as a national pride and a potential vehicle for long-term economic performance, (3) ethical issues were criticized by the exclusion of early embryo from human life and the ubiquity of abortion in Korea.

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A Study of Public Library Patrons' Understanding of Library Records and Data Privacy

  • Kim, Dong-Seok;Noh, Younghee
    • International Journal of Knowledge Content Development & Technology
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    • v.4 no.1
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    • pp.53-78
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    • 2014
  • As instances of private information leak increase, taking steps to protect such information becomes a necessity. In this study of public library patrons, we strove for a comprehensive understanding of library usage records to suggest viable solutions for private information safety in public libraries. To this end, we investigated the patrons' understanding of library usage records and determined the relationship between different user characteristics and privacy knowledge or leaks. The results show that a high number of patrons perceived these records as their own private information, but that there was no necessity for legal procedures or consent for the use of these records. Also, even though the understanding of these usage records showed that there was a relationship between the frequency of library visits and leaks of personal information, the correlation was not particularly strong.

A Study for Enhancing Efficiency in PUS Contents Development (일반인을 위한 과학대중화 콘텐츠 개발의 효율성 제고 방안)

  • Shon, Hyang-Koo
    • The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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    • v.16 no.2
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    • pp.117-128
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    • 2016
  • The growing socio-economic effect caused by science and technology requires public to participate in policy-making process, which makes government to boost public understanding of science(PUS). Government has also exerted to construct infra for PUS. However results are not so meaningful. The government-funded science museum has mainly provided the program for students. Besides, science broadcasting channel has recorded the worst viewing rate. Meanwhile, some of the private sector-manufactured contents have attracted public attention in recent years, which is realized by considering elements such as an interesting topic selection, use of outside experts, two-way communication system, level adjusting for public through flexible running system. This study analyze podcast based program, face to face lectures, display contents by private industry, fab lab etc. on the base of the reciprocal PUS model to sort out the reason they have successful results. Futhermore, it argues that government should intensify support for private sector and create synergy effect by cultivate collaboration system between government and private sector to enhance the efficiency of PUS and offers public policy to realize the plan.

Changing Relation of Science and Public: The Main Approaches to Public Understanding of Science(PUS) (과학과 대중의 관계 변화 - 대중에 대한 인식 변화를 중심으로)

  • Kim Dong-Kwang
    • Journal of Science and Technology Studies
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    • v.2 no.2 s.4
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    • pp.1-23
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    • 2002
  • This Article examines the main approaches to the public understanding of science(PUS) in light of the changing relation of science and public. Traditional approach called deficit model recognizes scientific knowledge as a entity, unidirectionally diffusing to public. This View basically presupposes the gap between science and public. Meanwhile, this approach has an aspiration to reduce the gap. So there is a paradoxical situation in the traditional PUS. Public perception of environmental crisis and risk of science has been risen since late 1980's. And the science technology studies (STS) have criticized traditional approach. STS proposes new approach of constructive PUS. Constructive PUS conceives the public to have heterogeneous, local characteristic. This approach has been very fertile both in theory and practice. But most recently, newly proposed approach, so called heterogeneous PUS, criticizes constructive PUS. Main point of criticism is that constructive PUS has dichotomy between science and public, and romanticizes the public. It is uncertain whether heterogeneous PUS can take place of constructive PUS. But this trend has the implication that the relation of science and public is constantly changing.

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A Study on Interdisciplinary Understanding of Modern Science Culture - Focusing on Case Study of 'STS Course' (현대 과학문화의 간학문적 이해에 대한 연구 - '과학기술과 사회' 교양강좌 사례분석을 중심으로)

  • Kim Dong-Kwang
    • Journal of Science and Technology Studies
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    • v.4 no.2 s.8
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    • pp.33-66
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    • 2004
  • In these days, science is too complex and comprehensive scientific practices to be reduced to scientific knowledge. Also it's actors go beyond the limit of scientist society to the broad range of supporting system scientific journalism, education, and business. Science is very important cultural practice of our times. This Study focus on the effect of interdisciplinary approach in understanding modern science culture. First, this paper suggest the approach of public understanding of science(PUS) as a framework PUS has provided new perspectives for the relation of scientific knowledge and understanding. Traditional approach(so-called 'deficit model') regarded understanding as mere transportation of scientific knowledge. So it may be called 'knowledge-oriented approach' to understanding. But PUS consider understanding process of 'dynamic reconstructing' which is occurred in complex socio-cultural context. Second, this article analysis the Korea University STS course(2002-2003) 'Science Technology & Society' as the case study. The case study examine how interdisciplinary approach help students to understand 'sciene in the making'.

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Changes of Students' Understanding of the Nature of Science After Two and Half Years of Public Science Education in Ontario Canada

  • Park, Hyeran;Woodruff, Earl
    • Journal of Science Education
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    • v.38 no.1
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    • pp.57-77
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    • 2014
  • A longitudinal study traced changes in students' understanding of Nature Of science (NOS) through the public secondary science education in Ontario Canada. Although the concepts of NOS are complicated, and students' understandings are not easy to change, not many longitudinal studies have been done across the world. The current study tried to identify the changes of participating students' understandings of NOS for two and half years of public secondary science education in Ontario Canada. Pretest was administered using Views of Nature of Science (VNOS-C) when six participants graduated from a middle school of Toronto. Two and half years of secondary education, the posttest was carried out using the same instrument. After pre and posttest, probing interviews were performed. The analysis of the data was founded on the Standards and the conceptual framework for this study. The findings were that the initial views have little changed. Most examples and explanations the participants provided were from their science classes. Lab activities for confirming the existing laws and theories and observable photos in science textbooks made students regard the knowledge as a truth. Naturally, their knowledge has been expanded for 2 and 1/2 years, but this expansion of scientific knowledge led students toward Universalist views on science. On the other hand, when science was presented with a historical approach or was networked with other concepts, students acknowledged science and scientific knowledge had been induced from inferences as well as observations and experimental results. Based on the findings the authors of this research suggest that educating the knowledge of science should be historical and networked approaches rather than teaching the knowledge as concise and true statements of the nature.

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Factors Influencing Cooperation between Nurses and Social Workers (간호사와 사회복지사의 상호 협력에 영향을 미치는 요인)

  • Kim, Hee-Jeong;Bae, Jin-Hee;Park, Sun-Young
    • Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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    • v.25 no.2
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    • pp.209-220
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    • 2011
  • Purpose: The study investigated the level of mutual cooperation among those engaged in public and private nursing and social welfare to understand contributing factors. Method: The subjects were 289 nurses and 279 social workers. The level of mutual cooperation between nurses and social workers was evaluated. taking into account related personal factors and organizational environmental factors. Results: The level of mutual cooperation between nursing and social welfare organizations showed the following sequence, in decreasing order; public nursing, public social welfare, private nursing and private social welfare personnel. The factors affecting nurses' cooperation with social welfare personnel were expected duties, understanding of social workers' service, service autonomy, service appropriateness, and the training environment of the organization. Factors influencing the level of cooperation of social workers with nurses included understanding of nursing service, understanding of the efficiency gained by cooperation, service appropriateness and the training environment of the organization. Conclusion: The development of training programs to increase the level of cooperation between the nursing and social welfare fields is strongly recommended.