Study On Science Communication Of China From The Perspective Of Risk Society

China is entering the era of "risk society", and how to deal with the threats and crises that accompany rapid economical and technological development as well as globalisation is increasingly becoming a major dilemma of modernisation in contemporary China. In further understanding and responding to a risk society, people become aware that science is more than a medium that defines risks but also a resource to solve them. In such a society, the building of an efficient science communication system and mechanism is of great importance. The system is critical in "eliminating the uncertainty in real life and responding to risks in a scientific manner."In China, on the one hand, the development of such a system is still in its infancy and is thus plagued with problems. On the other hand, China completed what took the West nearly a century to finish the modernization construction in a mere three decades. The compressed modernisation process has greatly heightened all sorts of risks, which highlights the inadequacy of conventional science communication in response to risks. The combination of a risk society and the theory and practice of science communication is therefore necessary in studying the newly emerged changes and characteristics of science communication from the perspective of a risk society in contemporary China. Furthermore, existing problems and reasons may be explored and theoretical principles and corresponding strategies summarised, in hopes of giving full play to the societal function of Chinese science communication and providing strategic reference for responding to risks scientifically.To achieve the goals stated above, the study is based on the theories of risk society, communications and journalism, which are combined with the practice of science communication in China to examine the dialectical relationship between risk society and science communication. Strategies to improve the science communication in China in relation to risk society are then put forward.First of all, the study elaborates the theories of risk society and science communication and reveals the development of a risk society and its relationship with scientific and technological progress. Furthermore, the interaction and interrelationship between risk society and science communication are revealed, while the key role that science communication plays in responding to a risk society is offered. Using science communication as a primary means of communicating modern scientific and technological information is confirmed as a good way to dissolve and eliminate scientific and technological risks. Secondly, a large number of case studies are presented in the study, such as the "PM2.5incident" in China, to systematically explain the newly emerged changes and characteristics of science communication due to risk society. Thirdly, the study is based on the theories of risk society and science communication and analyzes in depth issues existing within science communication in China, such as "the risk of systemisation","highlighted contradiction between sender and receiver of science communication" and "the overdue revolution of the mass communication media". Strategies to improve the future development of science communication in China within a risk society are put forward in consideration of its current status and from the perspective of "building a responsible state science communication system","improving the scientific knowledge of sender and receiver of science communication" and "building fast-responding scientific mass media".