4 Science communication: Expertise is not enough
This newspaper article (in German) argues that scientists are increasingly being asked to provide expert knowledge and options for solutions. Scientists also increasingly position themselves in social media. They are expected to provide well-founded facts and insights but are also asked to give advice and opinions. If they do the latter, they risk being heavily criticised. Expertise is often not enough to guarantee scientific communication. So before exposing oneself to a debate as a scientist, the author argues, it is worth exploring the interests of the other parties; it’s also worth reflecting on where one is with regard to the following different roles of a scientist, understood as stages of scientific activity: 1) knowledge generators, 2) interpreters of scientific facts and insights, 3) knowledge exchangers with scientists and others, 4) providers of recommendations, 5) holders of an opinion, 6) especially when the topic is not theirs. In roles 5 and 6, scientists are societal actors simply expressing opinions.