Students of SOCRATES

What if science communication aimed not to win over skeptics, but to empower people? Philosopher Kevin Elliott introduces scientific empowerment, a framework with material, social-psychological, and civic dimensions. We talk about Louisiana’s “bucket brigades,” AIDS activism, diversity and trust in science, and what could go wrong.

Guest: Kevin Elliott, Michigan State University, Fellow of SOCRATES
Hosts: Shawn Skelton, Thais Mitsuda Chagas, Maxim Pfaffenrot
Based on: Anne Toomey & Kevin C. Elliott (2026), Does science communication have its goals wrong? From persuading science skeptics to promoting scientific empowerment.

Links & further reading

●      Commentary set “Science communication in changing political winds” (JCOM), in which the paper appeared

●      Fair Tech Collective, Gwen Ottinger’s research group at Drexel University

●      Refinery Air Watch

●      Steven Epstein, Impure Science

●      Health and Air Quality Science Teams (HAQAST)

●      Elliott & Resnik (2019), Making Open Science Work for Science and Society, Environmental Health Perspectives

●      Tuskegee Syphilis Study (1932–1972)

●      Gabriele Contessa, Science Denial

Question to think about: How do you feel about science now? Any different?

Students of SOCRATES was created in the seminar “Philosophy of Science in Podcast: Themes from SOCRATES” (Institute for Philosophy, Leibniz University Hannover) by Dr. Tanja Rechnitzer. Recording and editing: Christoph Sapp.  SOCRATES (Social Credibility and Trustworthiness of Expert Knowledge and Science-Based Information) is a Centre for Advanced Studies at Leibniz University Hannover. Funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) – Project 470816212/KFG43.