A Study Of The Science Communication In Modern China From The Perspective Of Evolution Of Media (1840-2012)

Nowadays, the level of science and technology of a nation is one of the important bases to reflect a country’s comprehensive strength and its people’s scientific sophistication. Human civilization develops and evolves with the constant innovations of science and technology and, therefore, the evolution of science communication is closely related to the constant renovations of science and technology, and whether science can be successfully spread or not will directly influence the historic progress of science development to some extent. It is a fact that an effective science communication depends on the media’s function as a bridge. The science in China in the real sense originates from modern times, and therefore, explorations into the characteristics of science-communicating media in different times will help us further discuss scientific achievements and the changing track of applied technology, summarize the communicating rules and features of China’s traditional science, thus providing some instructions in reforming communicating modes of China’s modern science and technology. Meanwhile, it will also help establish a favorable environment for exchanges of knowledge and culture in the whole society, which will be of great significance in upgrading the comprehensive qualities of the Chinese citizens.By employing such research methods as literature review and interdisciplinary research, this thesis establishes the evolution of media and science communication as a main line, starts from the evolution of media technology, probes into the science communicating media since 1840, summarizes media technology, media functions and communicating modes in different times, makes diachronic and synchronic analyses of the effects and defects they have on the science communication activities, explores the inner logic and practical mechanism between the media evolution and the evolution of science communication modes, and then through a study of historic cases, it proposes a new mode of science communication. The thesis consists of three parts:the first part deals with the definitions, functions and characteristics of science communication and media, aiming at the effect and influence of the evolution of media technology on science communication; the second falls into three different times, namely, the years from1840 to1919, from 1919 to 1978, and from 1978 to 2012, and discusses the changing process of media technology of science communication in the three different times, combs and concludes the evolution of technological methods, functions and structures in these three periods, analyzes the roles and functions media play on the different times of science communication; the third, based on the research of the evolution of science communicating media and from the perspective of China’s traditional culture and historical facts, probes into the historic and practical factors which have restricted the effective development of science communication in China, and then from the perspective of media, makes a proposal of the reconstruction of China’s science communicating media system in the new age.Through a systematic analysis of the media of science communication in modern China, it can be found that the effect of science communication is highly correlated to the development of media technology, a nation’s social situation and the policies it has adopted. On the one hand, the development of science and technology results in a tendency of media diversity in science communication. On the other hand, the attitude of a nation towards science communicating activities will greatly influence the actions of science communication, and even directly determine the final result of such communication. In addition, the lack of scientific and cultural genes in China’s traditional culture, and the low level of the public science literacy have also constrained the development of science communication in China. Therefore, to attach further importance on science communication, to develop more ways of communication, to improve the public scientific literacy and so on will be beneficial to bettering science communication, improving the public scientific literacy and creating a healthy scientific atmosphere in China.