Abstract

In a risk society, active citizenship requires a high degree of scientific literacy in order to judge the risks involved in scientific innovations such as nuclear power, cloning and artificial intelligence. However, many science centres aren't promoting science literacy, despite their self-proclaimed mission of increasing public understanding of science.

This article combines a survey of science centres' promotional materials with interviews with staff and observations of exhibits. It argues that the centres' entertainment oriented, market driven promotional strategies emphasise entertainment at the expense of science, strip science of its status as a totem and cast critical appraisal of science as taboo.

Date published: November 2001