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Science often feels distant from everyday life. “Science communication” is an effort to convey the processes and achievements of science to the public and to explore its future direction together. It has been over 20 years since science communication programmes were established at the University of Tokyo and other universities in 2005. Despite the expansion of these initiatives, concerns have been raised that distrust of science is growing and social divisions are deepening.
In today’s world, where dubious information abounds and artificial intelligence continues to advance, it is important to review the current state of science communication and the challenges it faces.
In April, Tokyo University of Science launched its Department of Science Communication. While many universities have previously offered science communication as a minor or through individual courses, this is the only dedicated department for this field in Japan.
A class in late April was attended by approximately 80 students — the department’s first cohort. During the session, students paired up for an exercise using maps they had been given, which included landmarks such as factories and forests. The students attempted to describe their routes to one another using words alone. However, the landmarks shown on their maps actually differed, leading to instances where their descriptions did not align. Through this exercise, they learned that even when they believed they had communicated successfully, their meaning might not have been understood.
