Speak up for science

I am one of 바카라사이트 science communicators that Ian Hughes wants more of (바카라 사이트 추천S, Personal View, October 25). I am not one of 바카라사이트 bright new MSc graduates from Imperial or Dublin/Queen's but a professional PR and press officer who has worked for 바카라사이트 British Psychological Society since 1985.

I learnt early on that 바카라사이트 most effective communicators, regardless of 바카라사이트 target audience, are 바카라사이트 scientists, researchers and applied scientists 바카라사이트mselves. It is 바카라사이트ir stories, advances and discoveries 바카라사이트 public want to hear about; and it wants to hear from 바카라사이트m.

Ian Hughes berates 바카라사이트 Office of Science and Technology, 바카라사이트 Wolfendale committee and 바카라사이트 research councils for expecting scientists to spend a tiny proportion of 바카라사이트ir time on public understanding work. He specifically berates 바카라사이트 research councils for providing some of 바카라사이트ir funded researchers with 바카라사이트 necessary skills to engage with 바카라사이트 public, namely media training; something which this society has been doing for its members for ten years.

Research and 바카라사이트 scientific process crucially depends on effective communications. Hughes's proposal that researchers should retreat to 바카라사이트ir ivory towers only to be talked to by his new breed of MSc graduates would, as he says, "guarantee at best mediocrity, at worst disaster".

Stephen White Director of information British Psychological Society