The Problem of Communicating Beyond Human Scale
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The Science Communication Project @ISU was founded in 2010 with the goal of enhancing collaborative research on, education for, and the practice of public science communication, broadly conceived. Our biennial symposia- which include public presentations of multidisciplinary research and interactive workshops- bring together a network of scholars who share interests in public engagement of science, environmental communication, natural resource management, and agriscience. Conference proceedings showcase research, evaluations, and critiques of science communication-related practices and phenomena.
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Abstract
Human beings can only experience a thin ribbon of reality constrained by the biological limits of our perceptual systems. Yet, science routinely examines processes and phenomenon outside of human scale and science-related policy requires us to use our conceptions of these toward informed policy making. It often falls to experts to assist non-experts in constructing conceptions beyond human scale. This paper will organize relevant literature from varied fields to introduce the cognitive challenge of comprehending concepts beyond human scale and to suggest what communication techniques experts may find useful to help non-experts arrive at a perception more closely aligned with reality.