Abstract

CORTASSA, Carina G. The Theory of Social Representations. Cienc. docencia tecnol. [online]. 2010, n.40, pp.09-44. ISSN 1851-1716.

The aim of this article is to present a set of relevant contributions of the Theory of Social Representations to current research in the field of Public Understanding of Science. I will begin by examining the key conceptual issues of the theory. Then, I will describe the way it has been applied to account how scientific knowledge is spread and fitted in the popular common sense. Yet, I will argue that the theory is of major interest in a deeper sense; i.e., to handle with a core of social and cultural constrictions that shape epistemic interactions between scientists and the publics and affect, therefore, the possibilities of a genuine dialogue, devoted to share knowledge and to debate concepts and reasons in a more plural and horizontal way.

Keywords : Social studies of science; Public understanding of science; Science and culture; Social representations.

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