This has implications for the curriculum. That time for science in primary school should not be squeezed any further by the drive for literacy and numeracy. Once they leave school, most people get most of their information about science from TV and the newspapers. We find that in fact science journalism is currently flourishing in the United Kingdom. There are however problems with the handling of the science angles of news stories by journalists who are not specialist scientific correspondents, and with the distorting effect of headlines.
Some people look to the media to put their own house in order.
In our view, however, the current high level of media interest in science-related issues is itself to be welcomed. While it sometimes makes for public dialogue in terms which are unsatisfactory to some of the players, this is better than no dialogue at all. Scientists must therefore learn to work with the media as they are. We commend all these approaches. More broadly, the culture of United Kingdom science needs a sea-change, in favour of open and positive communication with the media.