'Perfect scientists and immoral non-scientists': a boundary work analysis of Chinese scientists' writing

Investigating scientists' perceptions of themselves and other social groups is a crucial yet often overlooked aspect of fostering equitable dialogue between scientists and the public, as well as between science and society. Rich material about Chinese scientists self-perceptions is available in 10 science popularization books on genetically modified organisms. They generally portray Chinese scientists as having perfect morals and abilities, while portraying non-scientists negatively as immoral. This general distinction indicates how Chinese scientists do boundary work in distinguishing themselves from others. These perceptions of scientists towards themselves and non-scientists may hinder further mutual understanding between scientists and publics. Such research on science popularization also provides new empirical analyses related to scientists' perceptions of the public beyond the usual questionnaire and interview methods. Moreover, it provides an example of boundary work with Chinese or East Asian characteristics, which finds that Chinese scientists tend to set boundaries at a moral level rather than through abilities, as emphasized in the Western context. Drawing on the theory of boundary work, this highlights a major barrier that could hinder the mutual understanding between scientists and publics: namely, scientists may unfairly frame the moral image of the public. Therefore, to achieve mutual understanding between scientists and publics, educating scientists and promoting their understanding of publics is at least as important as public understanding of science.