The idea of public understanding of science is not new. Throughout the 19th century, lecture demonstrations were held at the Royal Institution. They proved so popular that Albemarle Street, where the institute is situated, became the first one-way street in London due to congestion of the carriages. Starting with schoolboys at the Festival of Britain, the second half of the 20th century saw science reach a far wider generation of young people, who visited not just science museums, but also science centres. We now have a chattering class avidly lapping up broadsheet science, tuning in to Tomorrow's World, Horizon and, on the radio, the weekly science slot.
Books proliferate to meet the hunger for science.
Science sessions have started to appear at book festivals and usually end up with standing room only. But, of course, it is not quite a simple as that. First, we, in the science community, should actually have it clear what we are trying to do. It is not as if there are clear cut scientific facts that are just handed down to a somehow less intellectually able public. We will not solve the concern and anxiety of the new science and technology advances, but rather create an environment where breakthroughs, and problems, can be best understood.