Agricultural biotechnology and the poor : proceedings of an international conference, Washington, D.C., 21-22 October 1999. Communicating about biotechnology and addressing public concerns.

A special session on communications included a panel of science interpretive writers with inter-national experience in industrial countries, developing countries, the biotechnology industry, and nongovernmental organizations. Panel members were asked to address the central question of how controversial topics such as genetically improved organisms are handled from their perspective. Other issues included the role of the research community, the role of science writers in educating the public (without telling them how to think), and how science writers can do a better job explaining how science goes about finding answers.