Science communication as culture: A framework for analysis

This chapter takes as its starting point the idea that science communication should be considered an aspect of culture, and that it is therefore amenable to cultural analysis. We first outline what we mean by culture, and why we see cultural analysis as an important addition to science communication studies. Second, we introduce the circuit of culture as a key tool for cultural studies of science communication. Third, we spend some time with each of the five cultural processes the circuit highlights (representation, identity, production, consumption, and regulation), giving an example of each process at work through the use of a specific case study or instance of science communication. In discussing each process, we offer reflections on how analysis might be carried out.