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The decline of natural sciences in the culture of mass media

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2011

Carlos Elías
Carlos Elías*
Affiliation:
Department of Journalism and Visual Communication, Universidad Carlos III, c/ Madrid 126, 28903 Getafe, Madrid, Spain email: carlos.elias@uc3m.es
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Abstract

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This study sets out to determine if the interest in and study of natural sciences is declining in western countries as scientists currently contend. Part one demonstrates how survey results reveal a decline of interest in scientific news in the EU. Part two explores the decline of interest further through examining data such as the number of students interested in scientific subjects and scientific careers. I explore the hypothesis that the lack of interest in scientific subjects is influenced by the culture of the mass media, and the manner in which the media covers scientific items. I examine a range of media outlets, from reality TV shows and TV series, to movies and the press. Many aspects of this paper have been discussed in depth in my book published in 2008: La razón estrangulada (Reason Strangled: the Crisis of Science in Contemporary Society).

Keywords

communicationscience policyscientific careersjournalismTV
Type
Contributed Papers
Information
Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union , Volume 5 , Symposium S260: The Role of Astronomy in Society and Culture , January 2009 , pp. 393 - 404
Copyright
Copyright © International Astronomical Union 2011

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