Communication of Science: A Story of a Benedictine

Abstract

Based on the case of Benedictine nun Teresa Forcades, taken as a paradigm, and in order to identify the areas in which scientific communication, and especially communication from science, moves, the author sets up five concentric circles, defined as sufficiently homogeneous spaces. The first encompasses the relationships and interactions in each speciality, or rather sub-speciality; the second is in a particular branch of science; the third covers science as a whole; the fourth contains the entire society of knowledge; and the fifth includes society in general. Science does not communicate in the same way at each of these five levels. There are many dissonances. Communication usually works (albeit with some difficulties) between scientists in the same speciality (lateral communication). However, there are numerous problems in downward communication, both within a scientific area and in its relationship with the knowledge community. Communication with the general public is meagre, disordered and often inconsistent. Upward communication simply does not exist.