                  Rishon
Sabri, 2024To contact the author, please e-mail: rishonsabri@gmail.com |
Challenges facing science
 In a recent survey in the United States by
the Pew Research Centre, 86% of respondents said that they have at
least "a fair amount" of confidence in scientists to act in the public
interest, with 35% who have "a great deal" of confidence. However,
while most of the public generally values science and its contributions
to society, there are problems and challenges related to the public
perception of science today. There is a growing amount of
misinformation and scepticism about science, easily spread due to
everyone's access to the internet, particularly around controversial
issues such as climate change, vaccines, and genetically modified
organisms. This can lead to confusion and mistrust among the public and
can hinder support for progress on important scientific initiatives.
Many people may also have a poor understanding of science or its
methods, which can make it difficult to interpret scientific findings,
know the difference between misinformation and truth or engage in
informed debate about these scientific issues.This issue is made worse by the fact that scientists and researchers can also sometimes struggle to communicate their findings and ideas in ways that are accessible and engaging to the public, leading to a gap between the scientific community and the wider public. Misinformation expert, Claire Wardle at Harvard University said that with the explosion of fake and pseudo-science in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, the best way to fight misinformation is to swamp the landscape with accurate information that is easy to digest and engaging, such as Star Trek and other science fiction. Finally, the public perception of scientific research can be influenced by political or corporate interests, leading to accusations of bias or manipulation of data. The public may also perceive scientists as being elitist or out of touch with the concerns of ordinary people. Addressing these challenges and improving the public perception of science will require a range of efforts, including better science education, increased diversity and inclusivity in the scientific community, more effective communication strategies, and a focus on promoting scientific literacy and critical thinking skills among the public. The hypothesis of this dissertation is that science fiction can provide an effective avenue for achieving these..
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