The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for urgency, accuracy and specificity in the way science is communicated to different audiences. However, it also accentuated gaps in current approaches to making science suitable for public consumption. Inclusive science communication attempts to fill these gaps by promoting equity, breaking down barriers and leaving no one behind in the dissemination of scientific knowledge. The barriers to science communication addressed through inclusivity are numerous and diverse, spanning language and culture, educational status, poverty, age, access to technology and disability status. Since traditional science communication methods have failed to adequately address most of these barriers, this article proposes the infusion of art into these methods as key to making science communication more inclusive. It discusses the range of art forms, including drama, music, dance, painting and new media, that may be leveraged for more inclusive science communication and, alongside, addresses the challenges and opportunities to maximizing their potential.

The world’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath has been expectedly slow. Vestiges of the ravaging pandemic continue to exacerbate existing challenges, such as vaccine hesitancy, antimicrobial resistance and climate change, in the health, agricultural and environmental sectors. Although diverse, these challenges highlight gaps not only in our exploration, knowledge and understanding of science, but also in why, how, and to whom that science is communicated. One underrated side benefit of the pandemic was the urgency, accuracy and specificity with which science had to be disseminated to communities. The popularization of this need for more community engagement spurred considerable interest in communicating science, creating new opportunities for unreached or underserved audiences to access ‘the science gospel’. However, whether or not these audiences are reached in reality largely depends on how responsive science communicators are to adopting approaches that promote inclusion. This article is about some of those approaches, particularly the ones that overlap the arts. It explores some of the ways in which art may be exploited as a tool to advance inclusive science communication and presents a snapshot of the opportunities and challenges to reaching this goal.

Science communication has evolved to mean a lot of things, including public engagement, journalism and storytelling, which explore scientific concepts. But at its core, it is mostly about making simplified science available and accessible to stakeholders—members of the public, governments, private agencies, policy makers and scientists. Scientific publication in journals is arguably considered an aspect of science communication; however, the term may also exclude it, as journal publications make room for jargon and typically target experts and enthusiasts of a field. Science communication, apart from journal articles, which Bruce Lewenstein describes as ‘public communication of science and technology’, uses various media to engage the non-scientific community. Depending on the setting and audience, the goals of science communication may be passive such as when it entertains, informs and educates a lay audience or more action-oriented such as when it influences policy, triggers behavioural change or provokes political will.

Inclusive science communication is a relatively new term for science communication efforts channelled towards reaching specific, marginalized audiences. It acknowledges the identities, backgrounds and histories of individuals and communities and explores avenues for maximizing these unique characteristics. At its core, inclusive science communication is all about promoting equity, breaking down barriers to accessing scientific knowledge and leaving no one behind.

In their 2020 study, Canfield and Menezes highlighted three central traits of inclusive science communication, namely, intentionality, reciprocity and reflexivity. The role of intention in science communication is seen in how the science communicator becomes aware of an audience in a way that prioritizes its cultural backgrounds and fosters dialogue. Reciprocity, on the other hand, advocates a co-created, iterative science engagement practice that acknowledges the assets and expertise of both science communicators and their audiences. Reflection completes the inclusive science communication cycle by promoting on-going feedback and continuous adaptation to the changing needs of specific audiences.

The barriers to science communication take up diverse shapes and forms, relative to individual demographics or characteristics. More traditional approaches to communicating science are highly regimented and often expressed in the form of written or spoken communication. Scientific articles, whether published in journals or blogs, alongside the talks, presentations and discussions that complement them, are modelled after certain templates to appeal to a certain demographic. They do not only exclude ‘the outsiders’, but also reinforce the barriers that keep these individuals out.

Some of the barriers that impact on what, how or to whom science is communicated are language and cultural practices, educational status, poverty, age, access to technology and disability status. So long as there remains preferred languages (English is widely regarded as the universal language of science) for disseminating science globally, language will continue to limit access to scientific knowledge, in indigenous communities. The fact that language stands out as an integral component of cultural practices and identities complicates the impact of this problem, but definitely not to the extent of making it insurmountable. Literacy skills, gained through formal or informal education, worsens the language barrier, and so does poverty and access to technologies, such as the internet. Disability status is another important hurdle that may be overcome through inclusivity. People living with disability (PWDs) are among the most marginalized group globally. Disability limits individual access to life-saving medications, as well as useful scientific or health-based information for more informed decision-making. The challenges faced by PWDs are multifaceted and frequently compounded by additional barriers associated with language, poverty or education.

When individuals, institutions or organizations design communications strategies, those burdened by these factors do not typically come to mind as an important demographic to target. Thus, despite the plethora of resources that attempt to simplify science, online and offline, the problems posed by these barriers have persisted, and for an obvious reason – available resources fail to address them. It is for this reason that a more inclusive approach to communicating science needs to be embraced, especially one that leverages the magic of arts to aim at, break into and reach these audiences.

Art is creative, expressive and spontaneous. Whether as painting, poetry, music, drama or dance, its diversity stands out as a best bet for making science more inclusive for and targeted to various audiences. The stricture of the current methods to conducting and communicating science is well complemented by its flexibility; and accordingly, its somewhat subjective approach makes up for what science lacks in its objectivity. Together, these qualities make art an almost ideal route to navigating and surmounting the many barriers that traditional science communication fails so woefully at standing up to. And here’s how.

  • Drama: Storytelling is remarked for its ability to defy language, culture and educational barriers by conveying information in relatable format. The wide reception and engagement garnered by this form of communication, evident in the worth of the global creator economy, makes it a compelling route to disseminating science, both locally and at a global scale. The flexibility of storytelling allows it to appeal specifically to a wide range of marginalized audiences. For instance, drama may integrate sign language to target individuals with hearing impairments, adapt to audio for the visually impaired or incorporate cultural components (such as local languages) to reach specific communities.

  • Music and dance: Complex scientific concepts may also be communicated through music and dance. These two art expressions, which frequently work hand in glove, mirror prevailing cultures, beliefs and histories of individuals and communities. They strongly resonate with not only the older generation and elderly, but also the younger generation, who are quickly drawn to contemporary genres and styles in these arts. If these traits, which showcase a potential for cross-generational impact, do not make music and dance the silver bullet for tackling the lack of inclusivity in science communication, what else would?

  • Painting and sculpture: Artistic renditions of scientific concepts could help target arts enthusiasts, who may not have access to or be interested in conventional science communication media. Paintings, and other artworks, bring new meanings and perspectives to science that may not be effectively captured in speech or writing, enriching the learning experience of a target audience. BioArt, a contemporary style that uses biological organisms and tissues to create art, also presents a fascinating approach to science communication for both scientists and artists. However, unlike its counterparts, the relatively subjective interpretation of this form of art may pose a challenge to effective science communication.

  • Emerging media and technologies: Art is constantly evolving and stretching its tentacles to embrace new communication media and platforms, such as podcasts, social media and artificial intelligence. These modernized art forms offer quick, easy and on-the-go access to the world of science, a potential that remains largely untapped, especially considering their being restricted to a relatively elite demographic who have internet access. However, as their use becomes more widespread, adapting them to the needs, characteristics and preferences of specific audiences will go a long way to enhancing inclusive science communication.

The potential in the arts for transforming the current landscape of science communication and engagement is quite immense. However, it remains subject to the influence of a handful of other factors, such as funding. Executing, evaluating and enhancing projects which promote unconventional approaches to science communication require a huge and steady supply of funds from relevant stakeholders, including governments, industries and private institutions. While certain arts-based forms of science communication may be more cost effective in comparison with other conventional approaches, the multiplicity of audiences being targeted to ensure inclusion adds a layer of expenditure that may be readily offset with sufficient funds.

Another factor worth considering is the willingness of scientists and artists, in a broad sense, to work together, pooling resources, skills and knowledge towards advancing inclusivity. Although they exist, examples of such partnerships are still rare and isolated, keeping key demographics out of touch with happenings in the world of science. Perhaps, one way to mine this opportunity may be setting up platforms that facilitate such scientist–artist collaborations. Emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR) are also pertinent challenges or opportunities that can be efficiently leveraged to make science more accessible. These platforms allow for the integration of technology into the art–science cross-talk, with the possibility of making unpredictably massive impacts.

Inclusion is the new way to think about why, how and to whom science is communicated – and arts presents the perfect tool for making this proposition a reality. There are myriad opportunities in the arts for communicating science in a more targeted, holistic and inclusive way. However, unless they are exploited, billions across the globe would stay marginalized, excluded by the current non-functional models that have been popularized. If we have got this far working with these restrictive models, tools and approaches, how much more would we accomplish when we spice them up with the creativity, flexibility and spontaneity of arts?

Meta AI-generated prompt: A science-themed background with a colourful sphere depicting how science communication should be inclusive for diverse, underserved audiences and communities.
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Meta AI-generated prompt: A science-themed background with a colourful sphere depicting how science communication should be inclusive for diverse, underserved audiences and communities.

Meta AI-generated prompt: A science-themed background with a colourful sphere depicting how science communication should be inclusive for diverse, underserved audiences and communities.
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Meta AI-generated prompt: A science-themed background with a colourful sphere depicting how science communication should be inclusive for diverse, underserved audiences and communities.

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Wealth Okete earned a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from the University of Benin, Nigeria, where his interest in immunology, infectious diseases and vaccines first ignited. He stumbled into science communication shortly afterwards, lured by the idea that simplified and accessible science can have extensive positive impacts on both individuals and communities. As a science communicator, Wealth has published science and health articles at The Nigerian Observer newspaper and the African Science Literacy Network. He is also the founder and host of The Immunology in Africa Podcast. He launched this platform in 2022 to spotlight the fascinating works of African immunologists, promote science communication and engagement in immunology and related research and help next-generation scientists find inspiring role models. Alongside being a science communicator, Wealth also co-leads Biospherea, a community he co-founded during the COVID-19 pandemic to provide nurture and support to young and emerging bioscientists from Africa. You can check out some of his works here: https://www.linktr.ee/we.okete, and connect with him on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/wealthokete) and X (https://www.x.com/wealthokete_). Email: [email protected].

© The Authors.
2024
Published by Portland Press Limited under the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0 (CC BY-NC-ND)