The Emerging Role of Science Media Literacy

Many characterizations of scientific literacy are notoriously slippery. Here, I articulate one new dimension of the civic purpose of science education: science media literacy. In an era where scientific misinformation has become ubiquitous, a well-informed citizen-consumer needs to understand not only what makes science reliable, but also what makes science communication reliable. I discuss important shifts from conventional norms: from evidence to sources, from intellectual independence to epistemic trust, and from solo science to critical consensus.