A study on the science communication models of response to disaster threats with examples from China

It is an effective approach to undertake science communication with public concerned issues. To provide an analysis of the Science communication models of response to disaster threats, this paper starts with several models in terms of lectures, face-to-face talks between scientists and media, new media and science cafes. Consequently, the features of these models were analyzed. For example, the effect of lectures depends on the celebrity of the scientists and the size of audience. Face-to-face talks between scientists and the media stress the interactions. However,the effect depends on the quality of the reports done by the journalists. Science cafe is easy-accessible and casual, while it may not have huge influence in a short time because of its limited number of participants. The new media is popular among the youths, but not favored by the senior and children, and credit of online news is in doubt. No matter which model is applied, science communicators should focus on both science and interestingness to have a good effect. Since voice of NGO in science communication activities of response to disaster threats stays weak in China, the paper calls for more engagement of NGO in science communication of response to disaster threats.