Television is the major source of information for popular audiences about scientific research in the [Page 880]Western world. Scientific knowledge is not only mediated, but also constructed on television. Many scientists and science educators recognize this and use television to improve the image of their disciplines, as well as to communicate scientific ideas to larger publics.

Science content on television is mediated by various genres. The “usual suspects” are documentaries, magazines, and educational TV, but science can also pop up in dramas, news, reality and game shows, experiment shows, and (naturally) in science fiction.

Documentaries such as NOVA (PBS, on air since 1974) and Horizons (BBC, on air since 1964) are excellent examples of science-dedicated shows that are mainly aimed at the audience especially interested in science. ...