This article is a brief introduction of the survey of “the Role of Scientists in Public Debate” and the “Survey of Factors Affecting Science Communication by Scientists and Engineers” conducted by Royal Society and Wellcome Trust in 2000 and 2006 respectively. The aim and objectives are concerning how scientists define the term “Public Engagement”, who they should communicate with, what they should communicate, how they participated in the science communication activities, how they feel they are equipped with science communication and what barriers to the public engagement, and also, what stimuli in encouraging science communication should be activated by governments, funders, institutions and departments. This article is expected to make Chinese scientists and other research organizations and those who are interested in science communication aware of recent research on the role of scientists in this field and provoke debates on encouraging more Chinese scientists in science communication and the evaluation of the effectiveness of the work.

participation of scientists  /  science communication  /  barriers  /  mechanics of encouragement  /  responsibility