Communication is Everywhere
In public relations, we are often faced with critically thinking of ways in which communications can be used as a problem-solving tool, which entails seeking ways to make connections between the practice of communications and varied topics. Not only in Public Relations, but communication also has an utterly indispensable contribution in every industry.
In my “communication is everywhere” assignment, I talk about how communication currently impacts scientific area, such as climate change, my critique of current communication application, and how to improve in the future.
Most climate change scientists have been trying to convince people with actual science: evidence of melting glaciers, rising sea levels, and endangered polar bears. The increasing tragedies around climate change have been well-documented and communicated by the scientific community. Scientists have been discussing the dangers of climate change since at least 1957. Such warnings gained little attention from both government and the general public in the ensuing decade. Therefore, people also criticize that climate change is “the largest science communication failure in history.”
Climate change is one of the most discussed topics globally. Scientists have been warning about climate change for many decades and continue to do so. However, despite the immense research into the area, there is still public opposition to the idea and very little change in habits and practices. The failure to communicate properly might be the cause of the disconnect between the climate change experts and their audience. Information is largely inaccessible, either due to limited dissemination or the use of jargon in the scientific articles that are accessible to the public. Moreover, scientists have not listened to the experiences of people regarding climate change and their feedback. To improve communication, government and environmental public relations professionals should help scientists and scholars make information accessible and easy to understand. Moreover, they should provide channels for feedback and conversation to gain the trust and confidence of the general population.