In recent years, science communication scholarship has been experiencing major theoretical overhauls, which include the challenges to the theoretically dominant public engagement with science model; mainstream communication scholars’ attempt to renovate science communication with typical psychological and cognitive science approaches; and the theory of science’s medialization and the impact of social media on science. Based on a systematic review of the three newest theoretical threads, this paper offers objective comments towards their development and suggests possible China resources that can contribute to the theoretical development. Finally, this paper discusses the inspirations these international theoretical developments can bring to China’s science communication study.

public engagement with science  /  science of science communication  /  climate change communication  /  scientific controversies  /  science’s medialization