Translating wicked problems in science communication

Political communication in times of crises often relates to so called wicked problems characterized by goal conflicts, system complexity, and uncertainty. Such communication often aims at structuring these wicked problems in policy design, as part of ongoing processes of questioning and answering, including both elements of probing and powering (Hoppe and Turnbull, 2022). Science communication apparently has its say in such communication processes amongst different societal actors, adding here to the dimensions of probing in policy design. But while science communication can have an important effect on such problem structuring, the degree to which science communicators actually translate the often attested wickedness of public policy problems in their communication efforts with the public is widely unclear. This paper analyses how science communicators translate wicked problems in their science communication activities. How do science communicators understand the problem territories they are dealing with? And to which degree do science communicators aim to communicate wickedness to the public? Are, for instance, science communicators rather "taming" wicked problems or do they emphasize the wicked nature of problems? Answers to these questions add to ongoing research about the role of intermediary actors in political communication, more broadly defined. To answer the research questions, 20 science communication projects implemented within the Germany science year 2022 ‘Participate’ have been analysed. These projects span a wide range of arguably wicked problems, including problems such as climate change, environmental degradation, digitalization, social cohesion, public health, or public science. Data collection activities included document analysis and 20 online interviews with science communicators between 24.11.2022 and 26.01.2023, including both open and accompanying structured questions using Mentimeter. The interviews have been transcribed and coded using MAXQDA software, while answers to the structured questions have been analysed applying basic statistics in Excel. An additional workshop in December 2023 attended by interviewees and further science communication experts further aimed at discussing the study results amongst peers. Results reveal that the wickedness of public policy problems translates only partly into science communication practice. On the one hand, science communicators understand problems rather broadly, crystallizing in a rather medium degree of wickedness. They further highlight here the complexity of such wicked problems whereas goal conflicts and uncertainty seem less wicked. On the other hand, science communicators rather do not aim to translate this wickedness in their communication practice. In fact, the respondents mostly aim at addressing specific facets of problems rather than translating the wickedness of the problems. However, the participants of the study underline that both focused and complexity-related communication has advantages and disadvantages that can and should be addressed within specific science communication activities related to wicked public policy problems. References: Hoppe, R., & Turnbull, N. (2022). The politicality of problem structuring. Paper presented at the 3rd International Workshops on Public Policy. 28.