This interactive workshop, held on 12th July 2024, highlighted the importance of effective science communication and engagement with the public to build trust and promote science literacy.
The workshop was organised by the Academia Europaea Cardiff Hub as part of the Scientific Advice Mechanism to the European Commission. The Chair, Ole Petersen, welcomed the panel of speakers, and provided the context for the workshop. The session was facilitated by Toby Wardman, SAPEA Head of Communications.
Key messages
The keynote speaker, Professor David Budtz Pedersen, Professor of Science Communication and Science Advice at Aalborg University in Denmark, discussed the role of academies in promoting science advice to government, and emphasised the importance of trust, visibility, and transparency in academies combatting misinformation and increasing civic engagement. He also highlighted the importance of researchers connecting with different audiences through various voices, and the timeliness of communication. Professor Pedersen recommended that academies look upon themselves as part of a wider ecosystem, and encouraged them to communicate openly across institutions.
Wendy Sadler, the Founding Director of Science Made Simple, presented an overview of a case study from the SAPEA project, Food from the oceans. She recommended simplifying scientific messaging for public engagement and policy advice, and using graphic design to visually communicate key scientific messages. She emphasised the importance of setting the scene and giving context before communicating about a topic. To make the message more relevant and digestible, she suggested finding a hook or connection to existing interests and passions as a means of engaging the audience.
Dr Sandra Fendl, Scientific Policy Adviser at acatech, presented an overview of the magazine, HORIZONS, and the podcast, Late Night Tech. Both formats are aimed at policymakers and laypeople in society. The magazine uses colourful graphics and simple language to explain technology topics, and aims to engage students, laypeople, policymakers, and company employees, by providing a neutral and digestible way of presenting technologies.
The next speaker, representing the Young Academy Finland (YAF), Doctoral Researcher, Kim Krappala, introduced the Meet a Researcher programme. In 2018, Finland introduced a new law that requires Finnish high schools to cooperate with higher education. As many high schools are in remote areas of the country, YAF proposed the solution of introducing science education via remote visit video calls.
Katalin Solymosi, Co-chair of the Danube Region Thematic Mission of the Academia Europaea Budapest Knowledge Hub, discussed combining arts and science, where art is used as a tool to reach out to people who would not necessarily otherwise be interested in attending a scientific presentation or lecture. Katalin presented several projects and initiatives aimed at both teachers and school pupils.
Kieran Anderson, Head of Digital Communications, Royal Academy of Engineering in the UK, presented the This is Engineering campaign. Launched in 2018, its aim is to encourage young people from all backgrounds to consider engineering as a career. The campaign uses different channels of communication to attract their target audience, 13–18-year-olds, such as influencers on YouTube and TikTok.
The attendees were split into breakout rooms, each with a facilitator from SAPEA. Upon reconvening, each group shared key points from their session. These included:
- The need for simplicity, creativity, and multimedia platforms to reach a broader audience.
- The importance of collaboration with other organisations and with policymakers.
- The need to introduce research effectively to young people.
Further details are in the recording and slides.
Watch the workshop
Download the slides
- How academies can maximise the impact of public engagement. David Budtz Petersen, Professor of Science and Science Communication.
- Krill and chips: Maximising the impact of public engagement, Wendy Sadler, Founder and Director, Science Made Simple
- Science in Snacks by acatech HORIZONS, Dr Sandra Fendl, Scientific Policy Advisor, acatech
- Meet a researcher. Kim Krappala, Doctoral Researcher, University of Turku. Slides to follow.
- Science and society: Public outreach in a broader sense, Dr Katalin Solymosi, Chair of the Young Academy of Europe
- This is engineering. Kiran Anderson, Head of Digital Communications, Royal Academy of Engineering. Slides to follow.
Updated 19th July 2024. For further information please contact AECardiffHub@cardiff.ac.uk
