#Thursday Colloquium with Britta Lübke and Deniz Sarıkaya
For this Thursday Colloquium two Young Academy Fellows of the Academy of Sciences and Humanities in Hamburg are visiting at HIAS Hamburg to talk about science communication: Britta Lübke, education scientist at the University of Hamburg, and Deniz Sarıkaya, philosopher of the Formal Sciences at the University of Lübeck.
“Should scientists communicate the uncertainties of their research more strongly to society?” – This lecture by Britta Lübke discusses the case that scientists often report the experience, or concern, that so-called laypeople lose trust in science when numerous uncertainties of scientific research and its knowledge base are communicated openly and completely to society. Studies on that topic have so far contradictory and ambivalent results. After a brief introduction to different forms of uncertainty, Britta Lübke will present her own thesis, namely that more open communication about uncertainties would lead to their normalization in public discussion. And this could counteract the misuse of scientific uncertainties, e.g. by climate change deniers and lobby groups such as the tobacco and the sugar lobby. Further on she reflects on if this thesis does apply equally to all science. Are there differences in the perception of uncertainties, e.g. between the natural sciences and the humanities?
Her input is followed by a talk from Deniz Sarıkaya about the “Norm of Science Advice“. What shall scientists say in policy advice? He introduces and discusses three potential norms: One consequence focused norm, one focused on precision of statements, and one focused on the audience’s credence. How effective are these norms, and in what ways do they operate within the context of scientific collaboration?
This event is addressed to fellows and their tandem partners.