The Public Communication of Science and Technology and International Networking

Starting with a general introduction on that area of activities known as Public Communication of Science and Technology (or Public Understanding of Science or Science Polularization, or Science literacy), this chapter describes the aims, operation and activities of one of the first, most general in scope and probably the widest of the international networks operating for the public communication of science and technology, known by the acronym of PCST. The main outcome of the latest editions of the PCST conference series is outlined along with a description of the main themes for the forthcoming conference in 2004. The chapter is concluded by final remarks on the challenges still ahead.