Experiencing Biodiversity as a Bridge over the Science–Society Communication Gap |
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Authors: | YVES MEINARD FABIEN QUÉTIER |
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Institution: | 1. Gereco, Espace Saint‐Germain Batiment le Saxo, 30 avenue du Général Leclerc, , 38217 Vienne Cedex France;2. Institut für Evolutionsbiologie und Umweltwissenschaften, Universit?t Zürich, , Zürich, S‐8057 Switzerland;3. Laboratoire d'Ecologie Alpine, UMR 5553 du CNRS, Université Joseph Fourier, BP 53, 38041 Grenoble Cedex 09, , France;4. Biotope, 22 Boulevard du Maréchal Foch, BP 58, , 34140 Mèze France |
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Abstract: | Drawing on the idea that biodiversity is simply the diversity of living things, and that everyone knows what diversity and living things mean, most conservation professionals eschew the need to explain the many complex ways in which biodiversity is understood in science. On many biodiversity‐related issues, this lack of clarity leads to a communication gap between science and the general public, including decision makers who must design and implement biodiversity policies. Closing this communication gap is pivotal to the ability of science to inform sound environmental decision making. To address this communication gap, we propose a surrogate of biodiversity for communication purposes that captures the scientific definition of biodiversity yet can be understood by nonscientists; that is, biodiversity as a learning experience. The prerequisites of this or any other biodiversity communication surrogate are that it should have transdisciplinary relevance; not be measurable; be accessible to a wide audience; be usable to translate biodiversity issues; and understandably encompass biodiversity concepts. Biodiversity as a learning experience satisfies these prerequisites and is philosophically robust. More importantly, it can effectively contribute to closing the communication gap between biodiversity science and society at large. Experimentando la Biodiversidad como un Puente sobre el Vacío entre la Comunicación Ciencia‐Sociedad |
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Keywords: | Aprendizaje cognitivo ciencia interdisciplinaria comunicació n de la ciencia enseñ anza de la ciencia experiencia interfaz de la polí tica de la ciencia sustituto de biodiversidad biodiversity surrogates cognitive learning experience interdisciplinary science science communication science policy interface science teaching |
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