Final answer:
Marcus du Sautoy, Timothy Caulfield, and Jeff Hester identify distortions, misunderstandings, and misinformation in the communication of science to the public. They suggest that scientists should spend more time interpreting their research for the public and engage with them through various means to improve the understanding of science.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to Marcus du Sautoy, Timothy Caulfield, and Jeff Hester, there are various distortions, misunderstandings, and misinformation that confuse the way science is reported and interpreted. One distortion is the dissemination of information designed to gain popular support, which can lead to misapplied 'facts' becoming myths. Another distortion is the reporting of frontier science without distinguishing it from consensus science, leading people to believe that what they read about frontier science is typical of all science. To address these issues, the writers argue that scientists and the public should take certain actions.
Scientists should spend more time interpreting their field of research for the public to ensure accurate and informed understanding. They should also be cautious about collaborating with popular media outlets that may sensationalize or misrepresent their research. Additionally, scientists should actively engage with the public through various means, such as writing books or giving public lectures, to contribute to the public understanding of science.