Visible Scientist

The expression visible scientist is used to refer to scientists with particular “visibility” outside specialist circles and who may be familiar to the general public. According to Rae Goodell's seminal 1977 study on this topic, the emergence of visible scientists in the second half of the 20th century reflected not only a quantitative increase in their number but also a shift in the nature of their popularity. Contemporary scientists become visible not only because of their competence but also because of their ability to match—and exploit—the operational logic of the mass media by taking their message directly to the public. Success for these individuals means being known not only for scientific expertise but also for public involvement.

Studies by Hans Peter Peters and others have shown ...