Clear Complexity

Some people complain that public communication of science is often too ‘dumbed down’; the crucial detail lost through a dilution of the facts as communicators seek to appease a disinterested audience. Others worry that most science is too complicated to be understood and appreciated by the general public. In this interview with Strictly Science – the exhibition in London investigating the past, present and future of medical research that closes today – long term science writer and broadcaster Vivienne Parry rejects these ideas. No concept, she says, is too complex to be clearly explained, and the public have a far greater capacity for learning than they are often given credit for. However, as we soar through a ‘golden age of medical research’, and reveal ever more layers of complexity, we may find that ‘the more we understand, the less we understand’.

Written by Anthony Lewis

Anthony Lewis

Writer

Ant was the web editor in the early days of BPoD, and has since worked with the UK’s top science organisations as a writer and multimedia producer. He now splits his time between freelance work and managing multimedia at The Lancet.

Website

• Strictly Science is a 10-day free public exhibition being held at Imperial College London, exploring the past, present and future of medical research
• PEMG, MRC Clinical Sciences Centre