Professional Communication in Scientific Institutions

This paper, based on empirical observations and on a sociosemiotic framework, questions the homogeneity and the respective boundaries of science and communication. An enquiry has been completed on image banks of the main french research institutions. The initial idea was to observe and describe a midfield between scientific production and spread to the media and patrimonial or educational institutions : we thought to look at a circulation and transformation process of scientific pictures. These facts do exist, but they can’t explain all the phenomenons that one can observe. The analysis of “dispositifs”, practices and discourses of the actors involved in the spread of scientific pictures shows that one can’t explain these phenomonons using concepts such as “circulation” and “spreading” that are not appropriate. On the other hand, one can notice the setting up of a body of editorial, mediatic and institutional productions within which several systems of norms confront each other and hinge upon a legitimation process of professional practices. One can observe, inside scientific institutions, an autonomization of the communication practices that create or import specific rationalities. The classic boundaries between sciences, communication and society must be reconsidered.