Launching the European Competence Centre for Science Communication
It has been a while since our last newsletter. In that time, we have had two key COALESCE events: the launch of the online platform of the European Competence Centre for Science Communication and our annual general assembly, which included a workshop with our national and regional hubs (see the photo above). In this issue, we have reports from the three sessions from the launch event, written by students at UWE Bristol.
The launch of the European Competence Centre for Science Communication’s virtual platform kicked off with a session on the project’s goals, perspectives and quality assurance. Joana Magalhães from Science For Change outlined the project’s timeline and key objectives. The Competence Centre aims to be the go-to platform for science communication, offering quality resources and community connections, which are especially crucial during crises. Tools like the Crisis Navigator and SciComm Innovation Cycle, along with collaborations with National and Regional Hubs, will help achieve these goals.
Tony Lockett from the European Commission highlighted the importance of the COALESCE project and the Competence Centre during his keynote. He noted the rapidly changing communication landscape, with fragmented audiences and evolving news consumption habits, adding that AI can be harnessed to create content faster and more efficiently. In a world where distinguishing real from fake is tough, science is essential for informed discussions and decisions. However, there’s a gap between public interest in science and scientists’ ability to communicate, complicated by a lack of time, resources and common language. The Competence Centre, according to Lockett, can bridge this gap by providing quality resources and promoting science-communication excellence.
At a workshop moderated by Michael Creek from StickyDot, standards for quality science communication were discussed. Liliann Fischer (Wissenschaft im Dialog), Anne-Sophie Gresle (InSPIRES Open Platform) and Arko Olesk (Tallinn University, COALESCE) emphasised the importance of building on existing resources and ensuring evaluation and standardisation. Fischer pointed out that these mechanisms should not overburden science communication with having to be scientifically validated but should be sensitive to different contexts. The goal is for COALESCE’s resources to become essential for practitioners and available in local languages.
This session of the launch of the European Competence Centre for Science Communication’s virtual platform highlighted tools and strategies to support journalists covering scientific subjects during crises. Charlotte Bruns from Erasmus University Rotterdam introduced the Crisis Navigator, an interactive tool that was co-designed by crisis- and risk-communication experts, researchers, artists and designers to support the rapid mobilisation of science communication in times of crisis. While the first version targets science communicators, it’s also useful for journalists, with a version made especially for them coming soon.
Elisabetta Tola from Formicablu discussed a good-practice guide for journalists during crises. This guide supports journalists who don’t specialise in science and who – working under tight deadlines – must balance speed and accuracy. It addresses reporting under uncertainty, pre-crisis preparedness, framing and sensemaking during crises, and post-crisis reflection.
In her keynote, Daniela Ovadia from CESJ and the University of Pavia introduced the FRONTIERS project. This is a science-journalism initiative funded by the European Research Council to design a residency programme that would allow journalists to immerse themselves in research institutions, enhancing their ability to report accurate scientific information. The first call selected seven journalists, with plans for 40 fellowships by 2027.
Georgios Papanagnou from the European Commission closed the session, discussing the role of science communication in building trust and engaging multiple stakeholders to tackle societal challenges. Surveys show people trust scientists more than journalists or politicians and are keen on public engagement in research. However, scientists face barriers like lack of incentives, time and skills. According to Papanagnou, the European Commission supports projects like COALESCE to bridge these gaps, fostering collaboration among journalists, science communicators, researchers, civil society and policymakers to open up science to society.
The final session of the launch event for the European Competence Centre for Science Communication was a workshop focused on designing a matchmaking tool for scientific collaboration and engagement. The goal was to gather user requirements for this tool, which will be part of the Competence Centre’s virtual platform, enhancing the Competence Centre’s role as a hub for evidence-based science communication across Europe.
Set to be available by September 2025, the matchmaking tool aims to connect researchers, policymakers, stakeholders and citizens to collaborate on scientific topics, including crises. It will offer personalised recommendations based on users’ interests and profiles, making it easier to find the right partners. Users will be able to input their interests and goals, and an algorithm will suggest compatible connections. They can then review and select collaborators that best meet their needs.
The 1.5-hour workshop brought together over 15 participants from various professional backgrounds, including science-communication officers, science writers, academics, multimedia specialists, government officers and science journalists. They engaged in interactive activities to refine the tool’s functionalities.
Using online whiteboards for real-time brainstorming, the workshop began with an activity based on the “Six Thinking Hats” method to gather initial impressions of the matchmaking tool. Participants shared their feelings, concerns, factual observations and creative ideas. Next, the workshop focused on gathering detailed user requirements. Participants specified their roles, outlined their requirements and stated their purposes for wanting to use the tool, while also highlighting any doubts or concerns. This structured approach ensured a comprehensive understanding of user needs and expectations.
A segment of the workshop was dedicated to identifying potential risks and failures, crucial for the tool’s successful development. Participants emphasised the need for the tool to feature researchers with specialised expertise and those who bridge multiple topics. They also sought a user-friendly interface that would support networking capabilities, allowing users to easily connect with relevant experts. The discussion also covered building trust between stakeholders and exploring how researchers can influence policy decisions. Key considerations included avoiding silos in science communication, ensuring diversity in research representation and accommodating multi-language needs.
Participants were excited about the tool’s potential and committed to refining its design based on collective feedback. They highlighted the importance of fostering meaningful connections without overwhelming communication.
The COALESCE team will incorporate the feedback from the workshop in creating the tool and encouraged participants to stay engaged and provide ongoing feedback. Updates on the project’s progress will be shared through the COALESCE newsletter, keeping contributors informed about the tool’s development and future enhancements. Interested parties are encouraged to contact us with any questions or suggestions.
– Magaret Sivapragasam, UWE Bristol
Latest resources from COALESCE
Educational needs in scicomm for quadruple helix stakeholders and R&I actors
COALESCE is building the European Competence Centre for Science Communication, which incluedes a Science Communication Academy to provide training and support to quadruple helix stakeholders and research and innovation (R&I) actors. This report focuses on the skills used, training needs and preferred formats for training delivery expressed by the various scicomm actors.
Guidelines for non science journalists in times of crisis
These guidelines are dedicated to generalist journalists who are not specialised in
science topics but can be asked, more or less frequently, to deal with news that
involve scientific information as well as ethical and social implications of new
research methodologies or results. They aim at helping journalists to understand and tackle complex issues emerging
around the communication of science and technology, especially in relation to
crises.
SciComm Conversations: The role of generative AI in education
SciComm Conversations is COALESCE’s official podcast. In our first season, we are chatting with experts on the topic of science communication in the age of artificial intelligence. In fourth second episode, Corragh-May White from UWE Bristol spoke with Sam Illingworth – poet, games designer and Professor of Creative Pedagogies at Edinburgh Napier University – about generative AI and its role in education.
You can also listen to the episode, with a full transcript, on our website.
Beta Festival 2024 “Beta is a new festival of art and technology critically engaging with the impact of emerging technologies on society. Taking Ireland’s role as a central node in today's wired world as a starting point, Beta showcases and celebrates Ireland’s research and artistic communities through a combination of creativity, debate and experimentation. Beta allows members of the public to engage playfully and critically with new technologies essentially beta testing ethical issues facing society.”
Science Week “Science Week is a national celebration of science with hundreds of events for people of all ages taking place across Ireland. Science Week 2024 is harnessing the power of regeneration. The decisions we make today will greatly impact future generations and so it is important to take learnings from the past to inform our decisions for the future. From protecting our natural world, adopting more sustainable approaches to energy supply, embracing technological advancements and investigating new solutions to safeguard our health, it’s time to reimagine the way we engage with the world around us and enhance our collective strengths.”
Scicomm workshop: FORTHEM–COALESCE “Are you interested in enhancing their science communication skills? Learn how to effectively communicate complex scientific concepts to diverse audiences, from the general public to policymakers. Gain practical strategies for engaging non-specialist audiences, improving public understanding, and making your research accessible and impactful. Join us to explore key techniques in science communication and strengthen your ability to share your research with the world!”
Date(s) 📅: 20 November 2024 (10:00 CET)
Location 📍: Online
Language(s) 🗣: English
Open to 🧾: Master’s students, PhD researchers, post-docs
EUSEA Conference 2025 – call for proposals “The ABSW's premier biennial event that enables science journalism and communication professionals to discuss and debate contemporary issues in science journalism, to promote professional development and to link with colleagues, encouraging journalistic entrepreneurship.”
