EDITORIAL

What is and what has been the cultural role of the popularization of scientific theories? Scientific divulgence has been, and it is an important means of breaking the barriers between scientific knowledge and its popularization. Once, the scientist together with his language was considered unreachable in regard to general information. Who wrote and who writes is still in the majority of cases a scientist or at least a specialized technician. However, in recent years the figure of the scientific journalist (though not necessarily a scientist) has become more and more widespread even if his role has not yet assumed a well-defined physiognomy. Nevertheless, it is a fact that in the past years, the number of pages devoted to scientific matter in daily newspapers and the number of specialized scientific magazines has notably increased: we have witnessed a real ‘boom’ in scientific divulgence. The major risk of scientific journalism is to fall into trap of ‘superficialism’, reducing or transforming the news into events of ‘sensationalism’. But, on the other hand, the centralization of influence which science has experienced in the past is, today, absolutely anachronistic. Now that we live in the age of computer and internet, the objectives are quite different. Therefore, in this sense, the role of the specialized press is fundamental – not only from an informative viewpoint but also from a sociological one. We need only to think of the importance given to this type of information in developing countries. Besides significantly renewing the public’s preparation and their maturity in these scientific sectors, this divulgence is also essential to technical development. It is only through information that we can create those constructive dialects which stimulate the evolution and the attainment of continuous improved results. To be a scientific journalist does not mean that we must be concerned only with the results of research. We can also be valid journalists by investigating behind the scenes of research and by attending to the daily activities of scientists, the methods by which scientific theories are elaborated, the difficulties which may arise, and the activities carried out in various sectors. The important role of a technical/scientific magazine should be that of bridging the gap between research and practical application, between science and society. Ultimately, this would result in considering science a human activity, just as many other fields. Science should be a cultural aspect of our times which is mediated by a specialized press both the general public and to ‘field workers’.

What is and what has been the cultural role of the popularization of scientific theories? Scientific divulgence has been, and it is an important means of breaking the barriers between scientific knowledge and its popularization. Once, the scientist together with his language was considered unreachable in regard to general information. Who wrote and who writes is still in the majority of cases a scientist or at least a specialized technician. However, in recent years the figure of the scientific journalist (though not necessarily a scientist) has become more and more widespread even if his role has not yet assumed a well-defined physiognomy. Nevertheless, it is a fact that in the past years, the number of pages devoted to scientific matter in daily newspapers and the number of specialized scientific magazines has notably increased: we have witnessed a real ‘boom’ in scientific divulgence. The major risk of scientific journalism is to fall into trap of ‘superficialism’, reducing or transforming the news into events of ‘sensationalism’. But, on the other hand, the centralization of influence which science has experienced in the past is, today, absolutely anachronistic. Now that we live in the age of computer and internet, the objectives are quite different. Therefore, in this sense, the role of the specialized press is fundamental – not only from an informative viewpoint but also from a sociological one. We need only to think of the importance given to this type of information in developing countries. Besides significantly renewing the public’s preparation and their maturity in these scientific sectors, this divulgence is also essential to technical development. It is only through information that we can create those constructive dialects which stimulate the evolution and the attainment of continuous improved results. To be a scientific journalist does not mean that we must be concerned only with the results of research.

We can also be valid journalists by investigating behind the scenes of research and by attending to the daily activities of scientists, the methods by which scientific theories are elaborated, the difficulties which may arise, and the activities carried out in various sectors. The important role of a technical/scientific magazine should be that of bridging the gap between research and practical application, between science and society. Ultimately, this would result in considering science a human activity, just as many other fields. Science should be a cultural aspect of our times which is mediated by a specialized press both the general public and to ‘field workers’.