Communicating the Risk of Scientific Research

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

7-2010

Publication Title

Journal of Technical Writing and Communication

DOI

10.2190/TW.40.3.c

ISSN

0047-2816

Abstract

Risk communication has been explored in technical communication for over 15 years, but it has been largely confined to communicating the risk of industrial activity, medical risks, or environmental threats to the public. Using the framework previous risk communication has provided, this article applies those ideas to research science, specifically to stem cell research, where government opposition until recently has limited this research, preventing it from potentially providing organs for those who need a replacement or more effective treatments for other diseases such as diabetes or Parkinson's disease. Risk communication in the United States and Europe is contrasted to delineate the greater effort being made in Europe to construct stem cell research socially for the researcher and the public.

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