Contemporary high-profile scientists and their interactions with the community

This article presents a case study of 10 high-profile Australianresearch scientists. These scientists are highly committed toengaging with the public. They interact with a wide range ofgroups in the community, including the traditional media. Theyare aware that they are seen as representatives of science at atime when the authority of science and scientists is threatened inAustralia by controversy around issues such as climate changeand vaccination. Through their experiences of interacting withnon-scientists, they have developed views about qualities,characteristics and knowledge that contribute to, or inhibit,positive interactions between scientists and non-scientists. Theirexperiences and insights highlight aspects of contemporaryscience that are not generally acknowledged in science curricula