Biotechnology and communication in democratic societies: Old challenges for a new era

Authors

  • Mª Ángela Bernardo-Álvarez University of the Basque Country (Spain).

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7203/metode.9.10388

Keywords:

science law, popularisation, science communication, journalism, biotechnology

Abstract

Biotechnological research has made significant progress; however, some of its results are controversial because of their health and environmental risks, and these limit their application because of the precautionary measures applied to them. The dissemination and communication of information about biotechnology is now more necessary than ever to spread knowledge about innovations clearly, rigorously, and comprehensibly. At the same time, we must also inform about the certainties, uncertainties, and potential conflicts of interest these technologies pose in order to properly disseminate the available scientific evidence and promote autonomous, free, and informed decision-making: a key objective in any democratic society. 

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Author Biography

Mª Ángela Bernardo-Álvarez, University of the Basque Country (Spain).

Graduate in Biotechnology from the University of León (Spain). She has a master’s degree in Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Industry from the Pompeu Fabra University (Spain) and in Communication Offices from the Complutense University of Madrid (Spain), and is a PhD student in the Fundamental Human Rights and Public Authorities Programme at the University of the Basque Country (Spain). She received the Next Generation Science Journalist Award (2014), the ASEBIO Award for Communication and Outreach in Biotechnology (2015), the second prize of the Concha García Campoy Award in Digital Press (2016), and the II José Carlos Pérez Cobo Journalism and Critical Thinking Prize (2017).

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Published

2019-03-06

How to Cite

Bernardo-Álvarez, M. Ángela. (2019). Biotechnology and communication in democratic societies: Old challenges for a new era. Metode Science Studies Journal, (9), 17–21. https://doi.org/10.7203/metode.9.10388
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Issue

The grounds of science (2019)

Section

#Biotech. The need for biotechnology communication

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