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Circulation of Coronavirus Images: Helping Social Distancing?
1Institut für Kulturwissenschaft, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin.
Berichte Zur Wissenschaftsgeschichte
|August 16, 2023
Summary
The iconic red coronavirus diagram widely shared during the pandemic differs significantly from scientific virus imagery. This study reveals a disconnect between scientific representation and public perception of coronaviruses.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Science Communication
- Medical History
Background:
- The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 led to widespread public dissemination of a specific red, 3D diagram of the virus.
- Scientific literature on coronaviruses, however, rarely features such complete, alarm-colored virus depictions.
- This study investigates the divergence between scientific virus imagery and its public representation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the historical use of images in coronavirus research publications.
- To compare scientific virus imagery with the iconic public representation of SARS-CoV-2.
- To examine the role of color and diagrammatic representation in science communication.
Main Methods:
- Historical image analysis of 33,000 biomedical articles on coronaviruses (1968-2020).
- Qualitative interviews with authors of selected scientific publications.
- Analysis of scientific diagram conventions and color usage in conveying messages.
Main Results:
- A small fraction of scientific publications include images of the complete virus.
- The color red, used as an alarm signal in public media, is absent in scientific coronavirus depictions.
- Significant differences exist between typical scientific virus images and the public's iconic diagram.
Conclusions:
- The public's iconic coronavirus diagram is not representative of typical scientific virus imagery.
- Divergent aims and values between scientific and public audiences shape the interpretation of virus images.
- The study highlights potential unintended meanings conveyed to non-expert audiences through simplified, alarmist scientific visuals.
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