Why is Science Communication Important?

What I do, is not the most common thing. To many people, it is not even a worthy pursuit. Some say educating is for the classroom, and for teachers only with credentials in certain fields. And of course, they have their very important place. But due to a severe lack of direction and communication within the school systems as to what should be taught when it comes to science (we can blame politics and religion for this), it is harder for many people to access certain information. 

Science Communication is about teaching, or rather communicating a complex, and hard-to-understand topic that many people struggle with, and making it easy to understand. To a point that the person who did not understand before, can explain it to others. 

While to some, this may not seem important. Why do we need to know all these specific details about the world around us? Is what we learn in school, not enough?

In many cases, no, it is not. Depending on where you come from, your understanding of science, no field, in particular, is going to vary drastically from someone from somewhere else. Although true science should, and needs to be universal. But without the understanding that all humans are entitled to proper education, it is key to forming an educated society, which can progress and grow in healthy ways. 

Hopefully, at this point, we, together as a group are starting to understand the place of scientific communication. While it of course does not replace traditional forms of education, it can and should serve as an important supplement. 

Giving people the extra chance to really go hands-on with certain subjects, to see the science at work, to have it explained step by step, this is what SciComm or Science Communication is and why it can be so crucial to building a well-educated society. 

Some of the best-known science communicators in our modern world, are Bill Nye, Neil deGrasse Tyson, and many others. There are many more amateurs such as myself as well that are attempting to do the same thing but for more specific purposes and sciences, such as myself with Paleoanthropology. 

What science communication can do, is enlighten, and excite people of all variations and ages. It brings people together, it helps them understand. People who understand something are more likely to be encouraged to learn more about it, and other subjects. 

Once the spark is lit, there is little that will put it out, and that is the goal of SciComm. To light the flame, to spark the inspiration. It is what I hope I do everyday, even if it just a single person that I reach. 

There are so many difficult things to understand in this world, and some of us are just more inclined, and or raised in a way that they had more access to certain information and training in their lives that others did not. When they share this knowledge that they were keen enough to run into, it is when we see the true light of humanity, the passing off of knowledge. 

When we have a well educated population, we have well educated leaders, and we can make proper decisions not only for ourselves, but for the planet as well. If we want to change this world, we need to give the growing generations what they need to succeed, not just in the business world, or the dating world, but in the intellectual world as well, for a world full of intellectuals rather than worries, will be a much kinder place. 

There is always more to learn, and if you enjoyed this article, and want to see more of what I am talking about, then I implore you to check out my Youtube Channel right here, so you can start your science communication journey about Human Origins today!