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PERSPECTIVE article

Front. Commun.
Sec. Science and Environmental Communication
Volume 9 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fcomm.2024.1404875

Could recent advances and new perspectives in science education and conceptual change improve public understanding of science efforts?

Provisionally accepted
Patrice Potvin Patrice Potvin 1,2*Michel Bélanger Michel Bélanger 1,3
  • 1 Independent researcher, Montréal, Canada
  • 2 Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, Canada
  • 3 Université du Québec à Rimouski, Rimouski, Quebec, Canada

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    This perspective article explores the intersection of science education advancements and public science understanding improvement efforts, critiquing the still prevalent "deficit model" of science communication. It argues for a nuanced approach, incorporating insights from conceptual change research and the coexistence of scientific and misconceived notions within learners. Highlighting the prospects and promises of representational pluralism, it suggests strategies for science communicators to foster public engagement, emphasizing the importance of young audiences, avoiding simplistic dichotomies, and promoting critical thinking. The piece advocates for mutual enrichment between science education and communication, aiming for a well-informed, epistemologically competent public capable of navigating the complexities of scientific discourse. a mis en forme : Français (Canada) Code de champ modifié a mis en forme : Français (Canada) a mis en forme : Français (Canada)

    Keywords: Public Understanding of Science, fact-checking, science education, Conceptual Change, cognitive conflict, representational pluralism

    Received: 21 Mar 2024; Accepted: 30 Oct 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Potvin and Bélanger. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Patrice Potvin, Independent researcher, Montréal, Canada

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.