I’m a social epistemologist; I study the relationship between knowledge and society and how social interactions shape, create and direct what counts as knowledge. And there’s no better space to study this than science communication and science policy.
I usually take a philosophical approach in my studies, though I also engage in empirical research. Basically, data without good reasoning isn’t particularly insightful, and reasoning without grounding it or relating it to the empirical world isn’t particularly meaningful.
I’m especially interested in areas that are challenging and uncomfortable, from ethical and justice issues (who gets to know what and who should get to know what; who gets a say and who should get a say; etc) to questions over contentious or controversial science and technologies (gene tech; alternative medicine; etc). I also have an interest in how economics (the discipline, not the economy) is made public, and how that interacts with other forms of knowledge and expertise.
I’m an active member of the science communication community in New Zealand and internationally, and was the president of the Science Communicators’ Association of New Zealand from 2015 to 2018.
Current Teaching
- SCOM 409 Introduction to Science Communication
- SCOM 301 Science and the Public
- SCOM 109 Communicating Science: an Introduction
- MFCO 222 Science, Technology, and Society
Research interests
I have three core areas of interest:
- Normative questions in social epistemology (from the ethics of science communication to the value of ignorance in knowledge making to the ethics of RRI)
- The relationship between economics and knowledge (from making economics public to how economics shapes knowledge through policies)
- Social engagement in contentious issues (from alternative health to nuclear research and anything in between, but currently focusing on gene tech for pest control)
Potential Postgraduate Projects
I am happy to consider supervising project on the following topics:
- Economics in the public space
- Ethical issues in science communication and/or social epistemology
- Novel technology/contentious science and the public
- Science policy, participation, and responsible innovation
Current Postgraduate Student and Student Research
PhD
- Matt Fuller: The campaign to ban Depleted Uranium
- Alba Suarez Garcia: Poetry, Podcasts and narratives
- Suzanne Claessen: Unloved Biodiversity and cartoons
- Samantha Clarke: How GMO is represent in the media in three countries
Masters
- Olivia Taylor-Peebles: The human-nature relationship
- Wen Qing Ng: Dog walkers in Kauri forests
- Millie Johnston: Neurotech and Responsible Innovation
Recent Books
de Saille, S., F. Medvecky, M van Oudheusden, K Albertson, E Amanatidou, T Birabi and M Pansera, (2020). Responsibility Beyond Growth: A Case for Responsible Stagnation, Policy Press
Medvecky, F. & Leach, J. (2019). An Ethics of Science Communication. Palgrave, London.
Publications
Leach, J., & Medvecky, F. (2023). Ethical considerations in making economics public. In V. Macknight & F. Medvecky (Eds.), Making economics public: The hows and whys of communicating markets and models. (pp. 112-118). London, UK: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781003283447-15
Macknight, V., & Medvecky, F. (2023). Why make economics public? In V. Macknight & F. Medvecky (Eds.), Making economics public: The hows and whys of communicating markets and models. (pp. 1-6). London, UK: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781003283447-1
Macknight, V., & Medvecky, F. (Eds.). (2023). Making economics public: The hows and whys of communicating markets and models. London, UK: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781003283447
McEntee, M., Medvecky, F., MacBride‑Stewart, S., Macknight, V., & Martin, M. (2023). Park rangers and science-public expertise: Science as care in biosecurity for kauri trees in Aotearoa/New Zealand. Minerva. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1007/s11024-022-09482-9
Dixson, H. G. W., Komugabe-Dixson, A. F., Medvecky, F., Balanovic, J., Thygesen, H., & MacDonald, E. A. (2022). Trust in science and scientists: Effects of social attitudes and motivations on views regarding climate change, vaccines and gene drive technology. Journal of Trust Research, 12(2), 179-203. doi: 10.1080/21515581.2022.2155658
Medvecky, F., & Leach, J. (2019). An ethics of science communication. Cham, Switzerland: Springer, 123p. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-32116-1
Authored Book - Research
Macknight, V., & Medvecky, F. (Eds.). (2023). Making economics public: The hows and whys of communicating markets and models. London, UK: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781003283447
Edited Book - Research
Leach, J., & Medvecky, F. (2023). Ethical considerations in making economics public. In V. Macknight & F. Medvecky (Eds.), Making economics public: The hows and whys of communicating markets and models. (pp. 112-118). London, UK: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781003283447-15
Chapter in Book - Research
Macknight, V., & Medvecky, F. (2023). Why make economics public? In V. Macknight & F. Medvecky (Eds.), Making economics public: The hows and whys of communicating markets and models. (pp. 1-6). London, UK: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781003283447-1
Chapter in Book - Research
Medvecky, F. (2016). The cost of being known: Economics, science communication and epistemic justice. In J. H. Collier (Ed.), The future of social epistemology: A collective vision. (pp. 177-186). London: Rowman & Littlefield.
Chapter in Book - Research
Medvecky, F. (2014). Sinking our teeth into public policy economics: A taste of immortality. In G. Whitman & J. Dow (Eds.), Economics of the undead: Zombies, vampires, and the dismal science. (pp. 191-199). Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield.
Chapter in Book - Research
McEntee, M., Medvecky, F., MacBride‑Stewart, S., Macknight, V., & Martin, M. (2023). Park rangers and science-public expertise: Science as care in biosecurity for kauri trees in Aotearoa/New Zealand. Minerva. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1007/s11024-022-09482-9
Journal - Research Article
Dixson, H. G. W., Komugabe-Dixson, A. F., Medvecky, F., Balanovic, J., Thygesen, H., & MacDonald, E. A. (2022). Trust in science and scientists: Effects of social attitudes and motivations on views regarding climate change, vaccines and gene drive technology. Journal of Trust Research, 12(2), 179-203. doi: 10.1080/21515581.2022.2155658
Journal - Research Article
Heimann, A., & Medvecky, F. (2022). Attitudes and motivations of New Zealand conservation volunteers. New Zealand Journal of Ecology, 46(1), 3464. doi: 10.20417/nzjecol.46.18
Journal - Research Article
MacDonald, E. A., Neff, M. B., Edwards, E., Medvecky, F., & Balanovic, J. (2022). Conservation pest control with new technologies: Public perceptions. Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand, 52(1), 95-107. doi: 10.1080/03036758.2020.1850481
Journal - Research Article
Medvecky, F. (2022). Public understanding of ignorance as critical science literacy. Sustainability, 14, 5920. doi: 10.3390/su14105920
Journal - Research Article
Albertson, K., de Saille, S., Pandey, P., Amanatidou, E., Arthur, K. N. A., Van Oudheusden, M., & Medvecky, F. (2021). An RRI for the present moment: Relational and ‘well-up’ innovation. Journal of Responsible Innovation, 8(2), 292-299. doi: 10.1080/23299460.2021.1961066
Journal - Research Article
Finkler, W., Medvecky, F., & Davis, L. S. (2021). Environmental immersion and mobile filmmaking for science education: A New Zealand pilot study. Interdisciplinary Journal of Environmental & Science Education, 17(1), e2228. doi: 10.29333/ijese/9155
Journal - Research Article
MacDonald, E. A., Edwards, E. D., Balanovic, J., & Medvecky, F. (2021). Scientifically framed gene drive communication perceived as credible but riskier. People & Nature, 3(2), 457-468. doi: 10.1002/pan3.10186
Journal - Research Article
MacDonald, E. A., Edwards, E., Balanovic, J., & Medvecky, F. (2021). Underlying beliefs linked to public opinion about gene drive and pest-specific toxin for pest control. Wildlife Research, 48, 30-37. doi: 10.1071/wr19149
Journal - Research Article
Macknight, V., & Medvecky, F. (2021). ‘It’s not like any survey I’ve ever seen before’: Discrete choice experiments as a valuation technology. Valuation Studies, 8(1), 7-31. doi: 10.3384/VS.2001-5992.2021.8.1.7-31
Journal - Research Article
O’Connor, R. A., Nel, J., Roux, D. J., Leach, J., Lim-Camacho, L., Medvecky, F., … Raman, S. (2021). The role of environmental managers in knowledge co-production: Insights from two case studies. Environmental Science & Policy, 116, 188-195. doi: 10.1016/j.envsci.2020.12.001
Journal - Research Article
Reid, O. S., & Medvecky, F. (2021). Sharks and New Zealand news media. Marine Policy, 134, 104751. doi: 10.1016/j.marpol.2021.104751
Journal - Research Article
MacDonald, E. A., Balanovic, J., Edwards, E. D., Abrahamse, W., Frame, B., Greenaway, A., … Medvecky, F., … Tompkins, D. M. (2020). Public opinion towards gene drive as a pest control approach for biodiversity conservation and the association of underlying worldviews. Environmental Communication, 14(7), 904-918. doi: 10.1080/17524032.2019.1702568
Journal - Research Article
Macknight, V., & Medvecky, F. (2020). (Google-)knowing economics. Social Epistemology, 34(3), 213-226. doi: 10.1080/02691728.2019.1702735
Journal - Research Article
MacDonald, E., Harbow, M., Jack, S., Kidd, J., Wright, A., Tuinder, P., … Medvecky, F., & Poutasi, M. (2019). Segmenting urban populations for greater conservation gains: A new approach targeting cobenefits is required. Conservation Science & Practice, 1(10), e101. doi: 10.1111/csp2.101
Journal - Research Article
Burns, M., & Medvecky, F. (2018). The disengaged in science communication: How not to count audiences and publics. Public Understanding of Science, 27(2), 118-130. doi: 10.1177/0963662516678351
Journal - Research Article
Fraser-Baxter, S., & Medvecky, F. (2018). Evaluating the media's reporting of public and political responses to human-shark interactions in N.S.W, Australia. Marine Policy, 97, 109-118. doi: 10.1016/j.marpol.2018.08.020
Journal - Research Article
Medvecky, F. (2018). Fairness in knowing: Science communication and epistemic justice. Science & Engineering Ethics, 24(5), 1393-1408. doi: 10.1007/s11948-017-9977-0
Journal - Research Article
Sharif, A., & Medvecky, F. (2018). Climate change news reporting in Pakistan: A qualitative analysis of environmental journalists and the barriers they face. Journal of Science Communication, 17(1), A03. doi: 10.22323/2.17010203
Journal - Research Article
Medvecky, F., & Macknight, V. (2017). Building the economic-public relationship: Learning from science communication and science studies. Journal of Science Communication, 16(2), A01.
Journal - Research Article
de Saille, S., & Medvecky, F. (2016). Innovation for a steady state: A case for responsible stagnation. Economy & Society, 45(1), 1-23. doi: 10.1080/03085147.2016.1143727
Journal - Research Article
Hine, A., & Medvecky, F. (2015). Unfinished Science in Museums: A push for critical science literacy. Journal of Science Communication, 14(2), A04.
Journal - Research Article
Medvecky, F. (2014). Valuing the environment in conservation economics: Conceptual and structural barriers. Ethics & the Environment, 19(2), 39-55. doi: 10.2979/ethicsenviro.19.2.39
Journal - Research Article
Medvecky, F., Lacey, J., & Ashworth, P. (2014). Examining the role of carbon capture and storage through an ethical lens. Science & Engineering Ethics, 20(4), 1111-1128. doi: 10.1007/s11948-013-9474-z
Journal - Research Article
Medvecky, F. (2012). Valuing environmental costs and benefits in an uncertain future: Risk aversion and discounting. Erasmus Journal for Philosophy & Economics, 5(1).
Journal - Research Article
Parris, K. M., McCall, S. C., McCarthy, M. A., Minteer, B. A., Steele, K., Bekessy, S., & Medvecky, F. (2010). Assessing ethical trade-offs in ecological field studies. Journal of Applied Ecology, 47(1), 227-234. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2664.2009.01755.x
Journal - Research Article
Medvecky, F. (2022). [Review of the book Science communication practice in China]. Journal of Science Communication, 21(6), R05. doi: 10.22323/2.21060705
Journal - Research Other
Metcalfe, J., Gascoigne, T., Medvecky, F., & Nepote, A. C. (2022). Participatory science communication for transformation. Journal of Science Communication, 21(2), E. doi: 10.22323/2.21020501
Journal - Research Other
Medvecky, F. (2019). [Review of the book Ethics and Practice in Science Communication]. Public Understanding of Science, 28(4), 510-511. doi: 10.1177/0963662518816153
Journal - Research Other
Medvecky, F. (2019). [Review of the book The science communication challenge: Truth and disagreement in democratic knowledge societies]. Public Understanding of Science, 28(7), 865-866. doi: 10.1177/0963662519836798
Journal - Research Other
Medvecky, F., & Leach, J. (2017). The ethics of science communication. Journal of Science Communication, 16(4), 1-5. [Editorial].
Journal - Research Other
Medvecky, F. (2015). Knowing from others [Review of the books Knowledge on trust and A critical introduction to testimony]. Social Epistemology Review & Reply Collective, 4(9), 11-12. [Book Review].
Journal - Research Other
Medvecky, F. (2015). Transgressions and the scientific knower. Social Epistemology Review & Reply Collective, 4(2), 37-41.
Journal - Research Other
Leach, J., & Medvecky, F. (2014). Why do some people not care about science? The Conversation. Retrieved from http://theconversation.com/why-do-some-people-not-care-about-science-22473
Journal - Research Other
Medvecky, F. (2013). Economics, science and the spandrels of San Marco. Social Epistemology Review & Reply Collective, 3(1), 20-22.
Journal - Research Other
Medvecky, F. (2008). To infinity and beyond [Review of the book Introducing philosophy of mathematics]. Metascience, 17(2), 225-229. doi: 10.1007/s11016-008-9180-7
Journal - Research Other
Medvecky, F., & Leach, J. (2013). The ethics of distributing scientific knowledge: Epistemic and ethical injustices in context. In J. Goodwin, M. Dahlstrom & S. Priest (Eds.), Ethical Issues in Science Communication: A Theory-based Approach. (pp. 163-172). Ames, IA: Science Communication Project. [Full Paper]
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Full paper
Medvecky, F. (2021). Can Antipodean RRI be a responsible 'policy innovation' in innovation policy? Proceedings of the Inaugural Antipodean Responsible Innovation Symposium. Retrieved from https://antipodeanri.wordpress.com
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Dickie, L., & Medvecky, F. (2018). When science meets politics: The case of young adults and the Predator Free 2050 goal. Proceedings of the 15th International Public Communication of Science and Technology (PCST) Conference. (pp. 156). Retrieved from https://pcst.co/conferences
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Knapen, M., & Medvecky, F. (2018). The scientific basis of homeopathy, where is the (mis)communication? Proceedings of the 15th International Public Communication of Science and Technology (PCST) Conference. (pp. 254). Retrieved from https://pcst.co/conferences
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Medvecky, F. (2018). The ethics of risk communication [Keynote]. Proceedings of the SRA-Benelux Conference: Change in risk - Risk in change. (pp. 20). Retrieved from http://science.sckcen.be/en
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Medvecky, F., & Van Oudheusden, M. (2018). Putting responsibility centre-stage: The case of responsible stagnation. Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the Society for Social Studies of Science (4S): TRANSnational STS. Retrieved from http://www.4sonline.org/meeting
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Medvecky, F., Bucchi, M., Leach, J., & Dahlstrom, M. (2018). Talking about values in science communication. Proceedings of the 15th International Public Communication of Science and Technology (PCST) Conference. (pp. 301). Retrieved from https://pcst.co/conferences
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
O'Connor, R., Leach, J., Medvecky, F., Lim-Camacho, L., & Nel, J. (2018). Valuing good engagement process and individual outcomes in decision-maker engagement with science. Proceedings of the 15th International Public Communication of Science and Technology (PCST) Conference. (pp. 337). Retrieved from https://pcst.co/conferences
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract