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  • © 2019

An Ethics of Science Communication

  • Presents the first comprehensive set of principles for an ethics of science communication

  • Covers ethical problems for science communication as a way to analyse what we need to do to create an ethics of science communication

  • Provides a tailor-made ethics of science communication based on principlism

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Table of contents (12 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xii
  2. Ethics, Values and Science

    • Fabien Medvecky, Joan Leach
    Pages 15-21
  3. The Multiple Ethics of Science

    • Fabien Medvecky, Joan Leach
    Pages 23-31
  4. (Science) Communication as Ethics

    • Fabien Medvecky, Joan Leach
    Pages 33-39
  5. Kairos

    • Fabien Medvecky, Joan Leach
    Pages 41-52
  6. Knowing and Ignoring: The Utility of Information

    • Fabien Medvecky, Joan Leach
    Pages 53-61
  7. Storytelling and Selling Science

    • Fabien Medvecky, Joan Leach
    Pages 63-72
  8. Show Me the Money

    • Fabien Medvecky, Joan Leach
    Pages 73-81
  9. Ethical Science Communication in Practice

    • Fabien Medvecky, Joan Leach
    Pages 93-101
  10. Is Science Communication Ethical? A Question of Justice

    • Fabien Medvecky, Joan Leach
    Pages 103-111
  11. Conclusion

    • Fabien Medvecky, Joan Leach
    Pages 113-119
  12. Back Matter

    Pages 121-123

About this book

This book presents the first comprehensive set of principles for an ethics of science communication. We all want to communicate science ethically, but how do we do so? What does being ethical when communicating science even mean? The authors argue that ethical reasoning is essential training for science communicators. The book provides an overview of the relationship between values, science, and communication. Ethical problems are examined to consider how to create an ethics of science communication. These issues range from the timing of communication, narratives, accuracy and persuasion, to funding and the client-public tension. The book offers a tailor-made ethics of science communication based on principlism. Case studies are used to demonstrate how this tailor-made ethics can be applied in practice.

Authors and Affiliations

  • University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand

    Fabien Medvecky

  • The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia

    Joan Leach

About the authors

Dr. Fabien Medvecky is a science communication academic at the Centre for Science Communication, University of Otago, New Zealand. He holds a PhD in Philosophy and works at the intersection between values, science, and society.

Professor Joan Leach is the Director of the Australian National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science at the Australian National University. She wants science communication to be oriented toward the public good and thinks discussions of ethics are a good place to start.  


Bibliographic Information

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book USD 69.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access