Short description:

This Indo-European led collaboration aims to map the cultural authority of science, and to construct a system of indicators to observe this ?science culture? based on artefacts (science news analysis) and espoused beliefs and evaluations (public attitude data).

Long description:

The cultural authority of science is the authority that is granted to science in any particular context. This authority is as much a matter of image and perceived legitimacy as of statutory guarantee. However, while authority can be charismatic, based on tradition or based on competence, we would assume that science aims to be an authority of competence. To what extent does science have the last word, or stand above opinion on public issues?

This Indo-European led collaboration aims to map the cultural authority of science, and to construct a system of indicators to observe this ?science culture? based on artefacts (science news analysis) and espoused beliefs and evaluations (public attitude data). Indeed, through a series of studies the authors examine the cultural authority of science in light of the challenges posed by European, Asian, African and American developments and debates. In particular, two main ideas are examined: the ?Lighthouse? model, whereby science is shining into a stormy sea of ignorance and mistrust; and the ?Bungee Jump? model, which demonstrates how science occasionally experiences a rough ride against a backdrop of goodwill.

Presenting expertise in discourse analysis, computer-assisted text analysis and largescale survey analysis, The Cultural Authority of Science will be of interest to a global audience concerned with the standing of science in society. In particular, it may appeal to scholars and students of fields such as sociology of science, science communication, science studies, scientometrics, innovation studies and social psychology.

"It is difficult to overstate the prescience of this book. In short, this is essential reading for anyone studying science communication, public perceptions of science and cultural authority more broadly.  [...]  The Cultural Authority of Science begins with a brilliant conceptual overview, well-grounded in social scientific theory spanning sociology, political science, science communications, epistemology and ethics. Here, the authors provide the connecting fabric for the set of empirical studies that follow. The empirical research making up the core of the book includes data from every corner of the globe. This contribution is considerable because there is so little research on perceptions of science outside Western Europe and the United States.  [...] the book?s definition of cultural authority provides a unifying concept for future research spanning disciplinary and methodological boundaries."

Reviewed by: Gordon Gauchat (University of Wisconsin ? Milwaukee, USA) in Public Understanding of Science

Table of Contents:

Part 1: Concept and Theory Chapter 1: Bauer, M., Pansegrau, P. Shukla, R. ? Image, perception and cultural authority of science ? by way of introduction Chapter 2: Weingart, P. - The authority of science revisited ? mainly Anglo-European. Chapter 3: Raza, G. - Scientific temper and cultural authority of science in India. Chapter 4: Kim, H. S. - The authority of science in Korea: a new explication and measurement. ? Part 2: Mediated Authority Chapter 5: Falade, B., Bauer, M., Pansegrau, P Shukla, R. - Science and the news flow, 1990 to 2014, in Germany, UK and India. Chapter 6: Pansegrau, P. Bauer, M. ? The intensity of media attention as an index of authority of science. Chapter 7: Pansegrau, P. Popova, G. ? Framing science: discourses and representations in UK and Germany. Chapter 8: Guenther, L., Weingart, P. Joubert, M. - Bridging a gap ? mapping the science coverage of South African newspapers. Chapter 9: Süerdem, A. - Science news in Turkey: data mining techniques for science culture mapping. Chapter 10: Neresini, F. Lorenzet, A. - The great narrative: analysing the cultural authority of science through media attention in Italy ? Part 3: Perceived authority Chapter 11: Sharma, A. ? The cultural distance from science and the role of science education in India: a logit model. Chapter 12: Yuh-Yuh, LI. Chen-Yen, Tsai- The science, the paranormal, cohorts and cognitive polyphasia: the authority of science in Taiwan. Chapter 13: A note to the reader ?. Chapter 14: Falade, B. - Vaccination controversy in Nigeria 2001-2009: Religion and the authority of science. Chapter 15: Castelfranchi, Y. - Decades of change - Brazilian perceptions of science 1987-2015. Chapter 16: Besley, J. - Correlational stability in the US-NSF science and engineering surveys 1979-2014. Chapter 17: Crettaz de Roten, F. - Attitudes to science in the World Values Surveys ? longitudinal evidence 1981-2014. Chapter 18: Polino, C. Mu?oz van den Eynde, A. - Public perception of science technology in Argentina from 2003 to 2015: Longitudinal and structural analysis. ? Part 4: Inferred assumptions Chapter 19: Bauer, M. Süerdem, A. - Four cultures of science across Europe Chapter 20: Parker, S. Mouton, J. - Exploring the cultural authority of science in South Africa through public attitudes to science. Chapter 21: Xuan, LIU., Fujun, REN., Süerdem, A., Xiang, LI. Bauer, M. - Comparing public attitudes towards science across provinces in China. Chapter 22: Shukla, R., Süerdem, A., Sharma, A., Chouhan, B. Sharma, P. - All India attitude to science 2004: data mining and analysis of the structure of attitudes. Part 5: Conclusion Chapter 23: Bauer MW, BA Falade, P Pansegrau ? the cultural authority of science: summary and future research agenda