Only a matter (of lack) of time?
7. Jan. 2021
The sudden outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic – to give an example that affected all our lives – was a drastic reminder of the importance of science communication. Scientists and researchers, policymakers, journalists or media and citizens etc. can attest that measures to contain the spread of the virus will only be socially accepted if the communication between these stakeholders is effective. To increase the likelihood that quality scientific findings and advice are taken into consideration during the policy-making process, science communication can play an important role. Tackling the need to strengthen scientists and researchers being important voices of evidence, TRESCA produced an online survey for scientists and recently finished analysing the results this online survey about scientists’ motivations to engage with scholarly communication (or science inreach) and in science communication (science outreach) addressed to public, politics, media or further stakeholders. These findings will now open a conversation about ways to align current incentives to foster academic and scientific excellence with new methods and instruments better able to acknowledge the important social role science and scientific information plays in current times [read the complete article online...]
The TRESCA website offers blogpostings keeping you up to date with a best of learnings by the project! Read more here...
About the project
The TRESCA project’s goals are to systematically understand what drives public trust in science communication through large scale, experimental survey research and qualitative, deliberative research. TRESCA is designed to build long-term impact and produce positive change through the engagement and training of stakeholders, including scientists, journalists, policy makers and the public, in order to increase the production, exchange and consumption of more trustworthy, reliable, and accurate scientific communications.
TRESCA foregrounds the communication of findings from Social Science and Humanities (SSH) research related to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) developments around digitalisation. The project focuses on three areas of concern around digitalisation: misinformation and digital safety; environ-mental health; automation and the future of skills and work. TRESCA develops a set of tools for improving science communication including a tested and assessed animated science communication video; the prototype of a misinformation widget working on encrypted communication channels to help distinguish trustworthy contents and sources; and a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) for scientists, journalists and policy makers to learn how to best facilitate reliable and trustworthy science communication.
ZSI is part of the TRESCA concortium leading a work package focusing on creating in-depth conceptual and theoretical understanding of the way scientific findings and methods are perceived by citizens depending on the adopted communication method. This work package builds on the understanding of trends in science communication in relation to various policy levels: internationally, on EU level and member state levels. Furthermore, the work package will focus on creating a new baseline for state-of-the-art science communication videos.
Related Articles:
- News: Das europäische Projekt TRESCA in DiePRESSE:
- News: TRESCA: Coronavirus Response - Fighting Disinformation
- News: Gemeinsam Forschen zum Thema Wissenschaftskommunikation
- News: Wissenschaftskommunikation: Wie beteiligen sich ForscherInnen und warum nicht?
- News: APA Science: Umfrage: Wie sich Forscher an Wissenschaftskommunikation beteiligen
- News: TRESCA policy brief draft discussed at Science I Business event
- News: How to create better science communciation
- News: Key takeaways from the TRESCA & RETHINK project joint final conference
