Improving science and health communication for the Maltese Islands

Abstract

Society faces many challenges worldwide. Decades of science popularisation or health campaigns have not managed to significantly increase science literacy or produce enough Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) graduates with the right skills; ineffective alternative medicines are now a multi-billion dollar industry while unhealthy diets coupled with a sedentary lifestyle are leading to an increase in obesity, diabetes, cancer and other problems. This commentary gives a generic overview of science and health communication, outlining some of the latest ideas designed to introduce the concepts of dialogue, public engagement, and responsible research and innovation into these fields for more effective approaches. It also suggests that communication campaigns need to be evaluated to assess their effectiveness, and discusses how research funding applications can be improved by involving communication practitioners. In addition, it recommends that Malta needs to create a coordinated public engagement strategy to maximise resources.