And I believe that's partially caused by scientists not selling themselves properly.
From a public relations perspective, yes, that makes sense. But from a professional perspective it's a non-starter, because scientists are trained to doubt everything, including their own work. Scientists who become boosters for science itself end up being shunned by other scientists -- witness Carl Sagan's inability to be inducted into the National Academy of Science, thought to result from his science popularization activities.
So don't count on scientists to be public science representatives or boosters -- it conflicts with scientific skepticism and objectivity, normally thought to be a "good thing".
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From a public relations perspective, yes, that makes sense. But from a professional perspective it's a non-starter, because scientists are trained to doubt everything, including their own work. Scientists who become boosters for science itself end up being shunned by other scientists -- witness Carl Sagan's inability to be inducted into the National Academy of Science, thought to result from his science popularization activities.
So don't count on scientists to be public science representatives or boosters -- it conflicts with scientific skepticism and objectivity, normally thought to be a "good thing".