‘Pandem-icons’ — exploring the characteristics of highly visible scientists during the Covid-19 pandemic
Journal article, 2023
The Covid-19 pandemic escalated demand for scientific explanations and guidance, creating opportunities for scientists to become publicly visible. In this study, we compared characteristics of visible scientists during the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic (January to December 2020) across 16 countries. We find that the scientists who became visible largely matched socio-cultural criteria that have characterised visible scientists in the past (e.g., age, gender, credibility, public image, involvement in controversies). However, there were limited tendencies that scientists commented outside their areas of expertise. We conclude that the unusual circumstances created by Covid-19 did not change the phenomenon of visible scientists in significant ways
Public understanding of science and technology
Science and media
History of public communication of science
Author
Marina Joubert
Stellenbosch University
Lars Guenther
Stellenbosch University
University of Hamburg
Jenni Metcalfe
Australian National University
Michelle Riedlinger
Queensland University of Technology (QUT)
Anwesha Chakraborty
University of Bologna
Toss Gascoigne
Network for the Public Understanding of Science and Technology
Bernard Schiele
Technion – Israel Institute of Technology
Ayelet Baram-Tsabari
University of Québec
Dmitry Malkov
Science Communicator and Research Analyst
Eliana Fattorini
University of Trento
Gema Revuelta
University Pompeu Fabra
Germana Barata
State University of Campinas
Jan Riise
Chalmers, Gothenburg Centre for Sustainable Development
Justin T. Schröder
University of Hamburg
Maja Horst
Technical University of Denmark (DTU)
Margaret Kaseje
Public Health Specialist
Marnell Kirsten
Red & Yellow - Creative School of Business
Stellenbosch University
Martin W. Bauer
London School of Economics and Political Science
Massimiano Bucchi
University of Trento
Natália Flores
State University of Campinas
Orli Wolfson
Technion – Israel Institute of Technology
Tingjie Chen
SMG News
Journal of Science Communication
18242049 (eISSN)
Vol. 22 1 A04Subject Categories (SSIF 2011)
Gender Studies
Cultural Studies
History
DOI
10.22323/2.22010204