학술논문
'Pandem-icons'--exploring the characteristics of highly visible scientists during the Covid-19 pandemic
Document Type
Academic Journal
Author
Joubert, Marina; Guenther, Lars; Metcalfe, Jenni; Riedlinger, Michelle; Chakraborty, Anwesha; Gascoigne, Toss; Schiele, Bernard; Baram-Tsabari, Ayelet; Malkov, Dmitry; Fattorini, Eliana; Revuelta, Gema; Barata, Germana; Riise, Jan; Schroder, Justin T.; Kaseje, Maja Horst, Margaret; Kirsten, Marnell; Bauer, Martin W.; Bucchi, Massimiano; Flores, Natalia; Wolfson, Orli; Chen, Tingjie
Source
JCOM: Journal of Science Communication. January 2023, Vol. 22 Issue 1, p1C, 24 p.
Subject
Language
English
ISSN
1824-2049
Abstract
Introduction In her landmark study of visible scientists of the 1960s and 70s, A. R. S. Goodell [1975] noted that, when unusual circumstances coincide with unusual characters, the stage is [...]
The Covid-19 pandemic escalated demand for scientific explanations and guidance, creating opportunities for scientists to become publicly visible. In this study, we compared characteristics of visible scientists during the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic (January to December 2020) across 16 countries. We find that the scientists who became visible largely matched socio-cultural criteria that have characterised visible scientists in the past (e.g., age, gender, credibility, public image, involvement in controversies). However, there were limited tendencies that scientists commented outside their areas of expertise. We conclude that the unusual circumstances created by Covid-19 did not change the phenomenon of visible scientists in significant ways. Keywords History of public communication of science; Public understanding of science and technology; Science and media
The Covid-19 pandemic escalated demand for scientific explanations and guidance, creating opportunities for scientists to become publicly visible. In this study, we compared characteristics of visible scientists during the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic (January to December 2020) across 16 countries. We find that the scientists who became visible largely matched socio-cultural criteria that have characterised visible scientists in the past (e.g., age, gender, credibility, public image, involvement in controversies). However, there were limited tendencies that scientists commented outside their areas of expertise. We conclude that the unusual circumstances created by Covid-19 did not change the phenomenon of visible scientists in significant ways. Keywords History of public communication of science; Public understanding of science and technology; Science and media