The current pandemic has highlighted the critical importance of communicating complex scientific ideas to both policy makers and the general public. The challenge is made harder by the science typically not being completely certain, and for differing views to exist within the scientific community. It is also difficult when policy informed by science advice can potentially affect people’s liberty of action as well as the general economy.

Two people who have grappled with these issues over the last nine months are Fiona Fox, the Chief Executive of the Science Media Centre in London, and Tom Feilden, the science correspondent on BBC Radio 4’s flagship Today programme. In conversation with Charles Godfray, they explore the lessons that can already be learned from the pandemic for science communication in future emergencies.

Fiona Fox, Tom Feilden & Prof Sir Charles Godfray in conversation: “Science communication in times of emergency”