Knowledge Ecosystems for Scientific Communication and Public Understanding

Abstract

Scientific communication operates within wider systems of knowledge generation, preservation, translation, access and participation. This paper develops the concept of a knowledge ecosystem to examine how knowledge-transfer mechanisms have evolved from oral and cultural traditions to manuscripts, libraries, print, broadcast, digital networks and AI-enabled environments. It brings together literature on intangible cultural heritage, science communication, open science, libraries, citizen science and digital preservation with documented professional and field-based experiences associated with the authors. Particular attention is given to cultural mechanisms of transmission, Hindi-language science communication, community libraries and selected Rajasthan experiences involving biodiversity conservation, water management, ecological restoration and community participation. The paper proposes an Integrated Knowledge Ecosystem Framework (IKEF) comprising Generation, Preservation, Curation, Translation, Communication, Participation, Application, Scaling and Feedback. A complementary Community Knowledge Interface Model is proposed for libraries: Preserve, Curate, Connect, Translate, Enable, Engage and Feedback. These models are conceptual syntheses rather than empirically validated pre-existing frameworks. The analysis also distinguishes information access from understanding, participation from validation, and local knowledge scaling from automatic replication. It argues that libraries and science communicators can serve as interfaces among scientific, cultural, local, institutional and digital knowledge environments, while AI and digital technologies should be treated as enabling infrastructure requiring verification, ethical governance and human mediation.