Debating evolutions in science, technology and society: Ethical and ideological perspectives

The articles in this special issue address the topic of knowledge dissemination as a concept and as a practice, and investigate the discursive representations of a variety of topical issues in contemporary society, ranging from nanotechnologies to bioethics, from scientific research findings to environmental activism, but also including political discourses – such as Brexit, or the debate on doping in sports – and academic discourses and practices. The findings suggest that framing, selecting and perspectivising are routinely used in knowledge dissemination and transmission, and indicates that these aspects play a key role in all popularising discourses.