The SciComm Collective

Student Roundtable: What is the Deficit Model?

The SciComm Collective

Show Notes

"The public is diagnosed as ignorant of and lacking interest in science. The main symptoms of the condition are aversion, anxiety and mistrust. The prescribed cure: Science pills." - Marko Ahteensuu (2011)

What is science communication's Deficit Model, and why does it sound so ominous?

Join UWA Master of SciComm students Kelly, Holly, and Kate as we discuss the Deficit Model, why it presents challenges, and how it assumes a one-way flow of information from scientists to the public. What alternatives might there be?

Tune in to learn more.

Episode links:

⁠Science Communication at The University of Western Australia (UWA)⁠

⁠UWA SciComm⁠

⁠Dr Heather Bray⁠⁠

"Science pills" quote - Marko Ahteensuu (2011) Assumptions of the Deficit Model Type of Thinking: Ignorance, Attitudes, and Science Communication in the Debate on Genetic Engineering in Agriculture

Brian Wynne (1989) Sheepfarming after Chernobyl: A case study in communicating scientific information

Alan Irwin (2021) Risk, science, and public communication: Third-order thinking about scientific culture

Kate's blog: I Thought I Knew Science. Science Communication Changed That.

This episode was brought to you by:

- Hosts: Kelly Hopkinson, Holly Dear, Kate Holmes

- Producer & Editing: Kelly Hopkinson

- Show notes: Emma Gill

- Socials: ⁠Follow The SciComm Collective on Instagram⁠ 

- Website: ⁠thescicommcollective.com⁠

- Sponsor: UWA Grand Challenges

Keywords:

Science Communication, Deficit Model, Public Engagement, Dialogue, Participatory Methods, Indigenous Knowledge, Lived Experience, Science Education, Audience Engagement, Social Constructivism, Epistemologies, Knowledge Sharing, Science Culture, UWA

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