Picture this: You are interested in science communication and have just come out of the cinema, a comic book shop or are wandering through your favourite public space where science expressions are muralised. You are inspired and have many questions about the science and how it is communicated, the messages and meanings conveyed and the emotions evoked. You want to analyse and interpret the science portrayed in these visual media. For example, you may want to explore how street art depicting threatened species encourages pro-environmental behaviour, how animated films like Wall-E or The Lorax raise awareness of climate change or how comic book heroes like Poison Ivy precipitate concerns around mass extinction. You may be interested in how science influences the characters or the plot, and how these texts reflect cultural imaginations and interpretations of science. However, you are not completely sure where to start, and wonder: How do you study and analyse science in pop culture?

For years, CPAS students and researchers have discussed different approaches to examining the representations, dynamics and facets of science in pop culture from a science communication perspective. Here are our thoughts!