Science Communication
Making complex scientific topics accessible for the public while maintaining scientific accuracy requires placing the science and research in a larger narrative context with an important social responsibility.
“You don’t really understand something unless you can explain it to your grandmother”. This quote is attributed to Albert Einstein and should be the motto of all professional science communicators. However, in the current modern society - in which anti-scientific tendencies are winning a certain weight - communicating the social role of science is fundamental and responsibility lies with the specialists themselves when they relate to the broader public. Society has become more and more dependent on the scientific work and experts have to be aware of their social role and need to build a relationship of trust with the rest of the population. This was recently mentioned by Professor Giorgio Parisi, Physics Nobel Laureate 2021 in the talk “The value of science”.
Science communication should be part of a scientist's everyday life as communicating with society about science and its benefits is more important than ever. Although having more scientists who are effective communicators benefits science and society greatly, there are still relatively few training opportunities for science students and professionals to develop these skills. Fortunately, effective communication skills are no longer perceived as soft skills. Increasingly they are becoming part of the core professional skills every science student and professional should have.
“When scientists can communicate effectively beyond their peers to broader, non-scientist audiences, it builds support for science, promotes understanding of its wider relevance to society, and encourages more informed decision-making at all levels, from government to communities to individuals,” told us Milica Momčilović, president of The World Federation of Science Journalists and board member of the Balkan Network of Science Journalists.
When scientists communicate more effectively, science thrives.
News
-
Communicating the social role of science to contrast the the rise of anti-scientific beliefs
Professor Giorgio Parisi, Physics Nobel Laureate 2021, recently intervened at a jointly organised ICTP-SISSA colloquium, on 22 October 2021, to give the talk “The Value of Science”. His speech ranged...
-
[Event Announcement] Autumn School „Wissenschaft kommunizieren!“ (German)
Vom 8. bis 11. November findet die digitale Autumn School 2021 statt. Junge Nachwuchskräfte aus Wissenschaft und Kommunikation können hier von Profis aus der Branche lernen, welche Möglichkeiten es gibt...
-
Science Communication Fellowship
The IIASA science communication fellowship is a highly competitive program that immerses early-career science communicators in the dynamic work of the IIASA communications team.
[ Show all News ]
Events
-
Mediterranean Coast and Macro-regional Strategies Week 2022 : "Healthy sea for safer future"
The seventh edition of Mediterranean Coast and Macro-regional Strategies Week will after two years finally take place on site in Izola, Slovenia from 19 to 23 September 2022. Traditionally, the...
-
Open Science Communication Conference - OpenSciComm 2022
The OpenSciComm 2022 conference will connect complex research concepts and topics with the concepts that are familiar to the public such as climate change, artificial intelligence, cutting-edge technologies...
-
The Scientix conference, organised by European Schoolnet, is one of the major science education networking events in Europe. With only 2,000 places, the goal of the conference is to provide an overview...
[ Show all Events ]
Organisations
-
Centre for Southeast European Studies (CSEES)
The Centre for Southeast European Studies was set up in November 2008 following the establishment of Southeastern Europe as a strategic priority at the University of Graz in 2000. The Centre is an interdisciplinary...
-
European Association of Science Editors
The European Association of Science Editors (EASE) is an international community of individuals and associations from diverse backgrounds, linguistic traditions and professional experience in science ...
-
Euroscience was founded in 1997 by members of Europe's research community to: provide an open forum for debate on science and technology and research policies in Europe strengthen the ...
[ Show all Organisations ]
Calls
-
CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS– OpenSciComm 2022
In a knowledge-based society, citizens are able to make decisions based on the reliable and relevant information delivered by science. Open Science and Science Communication refers to public communication...
-
The EU-funded project TRESCA has developed a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) to directly investigate the question "What can be done when science and facts are questioned?". The aim is to improve current...
-
Call for Papers - Reinventing science communication? - Conference
An international conference “Reinventing science communication? Challenges for the post-truth era”, organized by the University of Ljubljana, Alternator and the Museum and Galleries of Ljubljana will ...
[ Show all Calls ]
Documents
-
The project WBC-RRI.NET already entailed a series of mapping exercises and co-creation procedures at regional level, taken place during the first half of the project. The participatory and systematic ...
-
Increasing achievement and motivation in mathematics and science learning in schools
In our fast-changing and technology-driven societies, education in mathematics and science is crucial for ensuring that children and young people have the necessary skills, knowledge and mindset to be...
-
Transitions performance index 2021: Towards fair and prosperous sustainability
The Transitions Performance Index (TPI) 2021 is the second edition of a new composite indicator, which measures the performance of countries along four transitions: economic, social, environmental and...
[ Show all Documents ]
Links
-
The RRI Toolkit: the most important information resource on Responsible Research and Innovation
RRI Tools is a flagship project funded by the European Commission (EC) under the 7th Framework Program. RRI Tools was set up to foster the development of Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) across...
-
[RRI Good Practice] Chemistry in primary school - How to have a safe life
What is the good practice about? "Chemistry in primary school - How to have a safe life" is a series of workshops that establish a link between the materials that students learn in school with everyday...
-
Eurobarometer: European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology
This survey shows that 9 in 10 EU citizens (86%) think that the overall influence of science and technology is positive. They expect a range of technologies: notably, solar energy (92%), vaccines and ...
[ Show all Links ]
Projects
-
Embedding RRI in Western Balkan Countries: Enhancement of Self-Sustaining R&I Ecosystems
WBC-RRI.NET aims to foster the application of RRI principles at the territorial level in five (5) Western Balkans (WB) - 4 region-level and 1 country-level - R&I ecosystems and promote a multi...
-
Using Science for/in Diplomacy for Addressing Global Challenges
A H2020 research project analysing and supporting EU science diplomacy The overall aim of S4D4C (“Using Science for/in Diplomacy for addressing global Challenges”) is to support current and future ...
-
Although these countries are not yet EU Member States it is important to monitor their achievements and reform efforts of social rights as candidate and potential candidate countries. This is particularly...
[ Show all Projects ]
