Research Column
Author: Gensei Ishimura (ELSI PR Office)
How can we deal with dilemma between accuracy and readability of scientific information in the area of education, PR, and other communication?
If we try to communicate scientific information as understandable, we often lose accuracy. On the contrary, if we try to communicate scientific information as accurate, we often lose readability instead.
Dilemma forever? How in the world could we solve the problem? How could we achieve a good balance between accuracy and readability? Which should we prioritize? Accurate description, readable one or intermediate one?
Thus, we introduced new solution to deliver "all of them simultaneously". We provided readers with 5 different articles with multi-level writing criteria, where you can find different accuracy-readability trade-offs. The trade-off is named "AR(Accuracy-Readability) Index", which is the extent to put priority on readability rather than accuracy (from 5 to 1). The index enables us to deliver contents with multiple trade-offs simultaneously as a package to readers for a single scientific topic.
AR Index has the following advantages.
1. You can find which layer(=AR Index) of the content you are reading. AR Index works as a meta information or "tag".
2. You can find other layers with different AR Indexes.
3. You can move to other layers through links if the current layer doesn't match your needs and conditions.
Now ELSI PR room developed a prototype for the format by making use of the following paper written by ELSI researchers et al.
Title: Crystallization of silicon dioxide and compositional evolution of the Earth's core
Authors: Kei Hirose, Guillaume Morard, Ryosuke Sinmyo, Koichio Umemoto, John Hernlund, George Helffrich & Stéphane Labrosse
Bibliographic information: Nature 543, 99-102 (02 March 2017)
Links:
You can find the plototype of the newly developed format at the following URL.
ELSI plans to brush up the format and is willing to share it with other research institutes in order to develop better science communication in the society.