Evolution, religion, and ignorance.

[Fidel_Castronaut]

It's a very good point, and it relies on both academia and 'laymen' educating themselves on interaction.

The university I work/research at has a dedicated 'talking head' academic that they use to relay otherwise complicated scientific advancements to the general public and, specifically,politicians.

Indeed, in an age where science tends to be well beyond the grasp of anyone who doesn't have an advanced degree in a subject (I don't hide the fact that when people start talking quantum mechanics here my eyes glaze over), having a dedicated interaction team seems to be the logical choice. Doubly so when talking to the people that really matter; the politicians and charities that hold the purse strings.