Leicester praised in new book on science communications

The University of Leicester has been praised in a new book examining science communications.

Beyond the Hype: The Inside Story of Science’s Biggest Media Controversies, published by Elliott & Thompson, takes readers behind the scenes of some of the most contentious stories in science over the past two decades.

From animal research and genetically modified foods to hybrid embryos and a global pandemic, it demonstrates the vital importance of scientists talking to the media – and warns of the damage to public understanding when scientists are silenced on the defining issues of our times.

Covid has demonstrated how scientists have indeed stepped up to the plate and the status of science journalists has risen inside newsrooms with editors recognizing the importance of getting the science right. The book argues that the groundwork for these positive changes had been laid over many years and through a series of controversial stories including animal research, human animal embryos and GM crops. 

The book is written by Fiona Fox, the founding director of the Science Media Centre, Britain’s independent press office for science, who shines a light on the truth behind some of the headline-grabbing stories of the last two decades. From global emergencies like Covid-19 and Fukushima to the shaming of Tim Hunt, she reveals the highs and lows of each media controversy and shows us how more scientists engaging openly has transformed the way science is reported. 

But Fox argues that not everything has moved in the right direction and highlights the way the government is exerting ever more control over the communication activities of publicly funded scientists – resulting in a worrying blurring of lines between scientific data and government ‘messaging’. Telling the story behind the sacking of David Nutt, the government’s chief drug adviser, for publishing science which was inconvenient to government drug laws, Fox calls for new rules to ensure a greater separation between science and politics. 

In her chapter on animal research, she describes the open approach at Leicester as helping to change the landscape and culture of animal research communication in the country.

She cites reports by the local media and the coverage by BBC Radio 4’s Today programme as examples of the successful approach taken by Leicester’s media team who worked in conjunction with the academics, technical staff, professional services and students to achieve the success.

Leicester won two successive national awards from Understanding Animal Research on the back of this approach. The 2015 award described Leicester’s media approach as ‘truly trailblazing’ and in 2016 Leicester’s media strategy was described as pushing the boundaries.

Leicester’s continuing openness has received many more plaudits, most recently for the work of Leicester’s Division of Biomedical Services (DBS) in May 2022 when the University was cited as being amongst the leaders in openness. 

Fiona Fox has won several accolades for her achievements, and in 2014, she was awarded an OBE for her services to science. She holds honorary fellowships at the Academy of Medical Sciences, Royal Society of Biology and the British Pharmacological Society, and an honorary doctorate from the University of Bristol. She writes regularly on science and the media at her own blog as well as for science publications and other media.