(Mis)encounters in Science Communication

an analysis of the discursive interaction between expert and the non-specialized public

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the discursive interaction between a scientist and a non-specialized public, identifying communicational barriers and strategies to propose pathways for a more dialogic and effective SC.
Methodology: A qualitative study that, through Discursive Textual Analysis (DTA), examined the transcriptions of a scientist's speech in the field of Biotechnology when presenting his research and the reception interviews with a non-specialized public, in a comparative analysis process.
Results: The results indicate a discursive mismatch: the scientist's discourse was marked by a focus on methodological processes and the use of jargon, whereas the public demonstrated an active search for relevance and personal contextualization. This dissonance created comprehension barriers, despite the expert's efforts to simplify the material.
Conclusions: The research empirically highlights the persistence of a deficit-based communication model. It is concluded that the effectiveness of SC lies not only in content simplification, but also in the communicator's ability to build relevance and contextualize knowledge, which demands training for scientists that prioritizes dialogue and otherness.