First published in 1986, The Science Critic raises many vital questions on the relationship between science and society. Drawing on forty years’ experience in science communication as writer and educator, the author deals with such issues as: What forms can public participation in science take? Who will take part in establishing the control of science? How will such controls be organized? How far will they influence detailed decisions concerning the nature and procedures of research? What are the implications not only for science but also for the spread of scientific information?
Goldsmith looks at the way science is presented to us through the various media: newspapers, magazines, books; television, film, radio; and museums. He examines the role of science fiction in advancing scientific concepts, looks at the special problem of ‘popularizing’ science in the Third World and proposes the creation of the ‘Science Critic’ as an effective way of improving the dissemination of scientific information.