A Theory Of Science Communication Ecology In China

As a category of communication which mainly disseminates scientific and technologicalinformation, science communication has already proved its significant function in facilitatingscientific and social development. Science communication is interrelated and dependent withmultiple social elements. Ecology is a theory that mainly studies the "connections" and theinterdependence among the parts and the entirety. In an ecological outlook, the world shouldnot be investigated in isolation. A research into the basic principles of science communicationwith the ecological aspect has an obvious theoretical value and guiding meaning in practice.The author narrated the historical development of science communication and theecology of communication, as well as the fundamental theories such as communicationeffects, "Use and Satisfaction", "Public Understanding Science", management and ethics oftechnology. Based on the existing references, the concept of science communication ecologywas put forward, which consists of the scientific and technological information (the object),the manufacturer, media, and receiver of the information above, and the overall underlyingsocial environment. The author also elaborated several concepts of science communicationecology such as its internal energy flow, the individual survival condition, systematic balance,as well as the feedback and developing mechanism.The concept of entropy in thermodynamics and information science was introduced intothe research. The core mechanism of science communication ecology is the interrelationshipbetween the natural growth of total entropy accompanied by science communication activitiesand the production of information (the negative entropy). The author deemed that thismechanism is the key to science communication, which nature is the transference,transformation and dissipation of multiple forms (such as informational, policy, financial, orin public opinion) of energy among the numerous subjects (the manufacturers, the media, andthe receivers). This movement keeps the existence and the operation of the whole system. Thekey step is the receiver's understanding and appreciation of scientific information.Some current situations in China, such as academic ethics, gate-keeping,symbolic-worship of science, and the diversification of the manufacturer, were analyzedaccording to the theory of science communication ecology. The management of sciencecommunication ecology is the external intervene in order to maintain a healthy circle, whichconsists of the monitoring, evaluation and regulation of science information anddisseminating procedure.