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Abstract
In the digital media environment, public engagement with science around controversial scientific topics such as genetically modified organisms (GMOs) has greatly expanded. But the public's role as science communicators in such engagement has been virtually ignored. Through an online ethnography of the discussion of GMOs on Zhihu, the biggest Chinese knowledge-sharing network, this study identifies a new group: citizen science communicators involved in online science communication. The emergence and popularity of this new group brings public engagement with science to a new stage – public engagement with science communication – and changes the role of the public in science communication from audiences to communicators. The development of digital platforms and the revolution of the understanding of science communication all contribute to the emergence and popularity of this group in the Chinese digital environment.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Ethical community
Ethics Administrator office of Sociological Studies.
The University of Sheffield.
Data of approval: 23/11/2018
Approval Number: 023021
Notes
1 “Excellent answers” (精品回答) are selected by the Zhihu platform in each topic section based on the number of likes, comments, and content quality of the answers, combined with comprehensive algorithmic measurements. The selected “excellent answers” all feature higher quality content, contain more information, and the number of likes and comments received are the greatest in the entire topic section. Therefore, they are also the most popular and influential answers in each topic section.