In a speech outlining the theory of science communication, Liu Bing of Tsinghua University argued that the dominant model encourages public participation in science development. It has been used by science communicators worldwide to develop strategies for involving the public in decisions relating to science progress.

　　据李大光所说，中国社会似乎做好了采取这一模式的准备。今年她在中国江苏省和云南省进行的一项调查发现，公众特别渴望能够参与到任何与当地重要科学相关项目的公开听证会中。

　　According to Li, Chinese society seems ready to adopt this model. In a survey conducted in Jiangsu and Yunnan provinces in China earlier this year, Li found that people would be keen to participate in any public hearing on an important local science-related project.

　　然而在这一研讨会中，人们也清楚地认识到，要让科学传播能有效促进公众知情参与决策，还需要进行很多改革，这其中也包含了官方愿意让公众能参与到科学相关问题中的意愿。

　　But it also became clear from the symposium that before science communication can become effective in promoting informed public participation in policymaking, many changes are needed — including willingness by government officials to involve the public in science-related issues.

　　另外一个问题是要改善科学传播与科学普及的方法。目前，这主要是由政府实施的，这就意味着这是由高层官员与主要专家们来决定大众的需要。

　　Another would be to revise the approach to science communication and popularisation. At present, this is mainly handled by the government, which means it is sanctioned for public consumption by top officials and leading experts.

　　然而，中科院政策与管理研究所的副研究员朱效民在研讨会上说，由领导者们设置的优先事务有时与基层群体的需求是不协调的。

　　But Zhu Xiaomin, a researcher at the Institute of Policy and Management of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, told the symposium that priorities set by leaders are sometimes inconsistent with the requirements of the grassroots community.

　　举例来说，在北京的远郊地区，科学传播者们发现他们必须出钱才能让农民们参加有关科学的讲座，这是因为这些农民们觉得这是在浪费他们挣钱的时间。

　　In Beijing's rural suburbs, for example, science communicators found that they had to pay farmers to participate in lectures on science because the farmers felt they would be wasting time they could be using to make money.

　　实践的观点

　　Practical points

　　这次研讨会总的观点是科学传播应该是由具体事件和需求来决定。在需要公众参与到科学相关政策时，决策者（或他们背后的专家）们应该让大众知晓该科学的相关方面——例如潜在的污染可能——并以通俗易懂的方式告知他们。

　　The general view of the symposium was that science communication should be driven by events and demand. When the public need to be involved in science-related policies, decision-makers (or the experts behind them) should inform the public about the scientific aspects — such as potential pollution — in straightforward terms.

　　在有关科学相关问题的公众听证会中，也应该遵守适当的程序。在这样的听证会中要选取广泛的公众代表，并给予代表充分时间来表达他们合理的忧虑。例如，在厦门PX化工厂案例中，挑选了100名代表，然而给时间讲话的人却不多，而且每个人讲话时间还被限定在5分钟以内。

　　Appropriate procedures should also be observed at public hearings on science-related issues. A wide selection from the public should be represented at such hearings, and delegates should be allowed time to express their reasonable concerns. In the Xiamen chemical-plant case, for example, 100 delegates were chosen, but few were given time to speak and their presentations were each limited to five minutes.

　　公众的讨论还应该避免使用科学术语而不丧失必要的科学内涵。应该在一开始就采纳一种将意见和结论建立在科学证据上的态度。

　　Debates should avoid scientific jargon without sacrificing scientific content. A willingness to base suggestions and conclusions on scientific evidence — interpreted in a comprehensible way — should be adopted from the start.

　　比如，在转基因作物这一案例中，公众的合理担忧不应该用于夸大转基因作物未证明的健康威胁或者是破坏对其安全性的确信。

　　In the case of GM crops, for example, reasonable public concerns should not be used to exaggerate their unproven health risk or to undermine the established understanding of their safety.

　　让公众参与科学相关问题的决策过程并不容易。但是对发展中国家的科学传播者来说这是一项必需完成的任务，他们的努力将会引导科学与技术运用于可持续发展。

　　Involving the public in decision-making on scientific issues is not easy. But it is an essential task for science communicators in the developing world, whose efforts will guide the use of science and technology in sustainable development.

　　本文由科学与发展网络(SciDev.Net)独家提供。