This week, IANUS project partners have met in Rotterdam to join the global discussion on science communication at the Public Communication of Science and Technology PCST Conference 2023.
The PCST network has been bringing together practitioners, educators, and researchers in science communication since 1989, with previous conferences taking place in countries such as South Korea, Brazil, Australia. This years’ conference was built on the theme of ‘Creating common ground,’ emphasizing the ongoing nature of the discovery of science communication as a key feature of scientific and technological development.
It is hard to underestimate the importance of a collaborative network of researchers and practitioners in science communication. Acting together, they can foster the relationship between researchers and public, ultimately building solid trust in science and innovation. To solve issues of distrust, mistrust and unreliability of information, then, it is paramount to engage multiple stakeholders from multiple fields, even with conflicting perspectives, so as to develop better openness towards each other and each other’s views and build common ground towards the co-construction of knowledge. Creating common ground means to hold an open mind regarding science communication research and its practices, thus aligning with the ongoing evolution of scientific process and of the science communication domain. It is through connections among different stakeholders, such as journalists, science communicators, researchers, and scientists that we can make significant changes in reaching the public and fostering trust in data and scientific results.
We have been following with interest the panels and presentations of these four days, which have provided lots of thought-provoking debates, suggestions, and insights from researchers from all over the world. It has also been an amazing opportunity to get to know other research projects like IANUS and expand our network to include other European and EU funded groups researching science communication and dissemination. It will prove a great chance to expand our understanding of the challenges and opportunities of fostering public trust in science, research, and innovation.
Please look forward to our next updates, where we discuss highlights from IANUS partners’ presentations at PCST 2023.
