Visitors to public science events (PSEs) often report gains in scientific knowledge, improved attitudes toward science, and a greater awareness of science in everyday life (Jensen & Buckley, 2012; Adhikari et al., 2019; Boyette & Ramsey, 2019). However, these visitors disproportionately come from white, well-educated backgrounds (Bultitude, 2014; Kennedy et al., 2018; Adhikari et al., 2019; Nielsen et al., 2019). This paper utilizes a science capital framework to analyze the differential patterns of participation among PSE audiences. Quantitative analysis approaches are used to explore the kinds of science capital that visitors bring to PSEs, how the science capital of audiences differs between events, and how science capital might predict future participation in PSEs. Results reveal that PSE visitors typically have high pre-existing levels of science capital and that those with high levels of science capital are more likely to express interest in attending future PSEs. Directions for future research and practice are discussed.

In May 2021, the World Health Organization announced a new naming system for SARS-CoV-2 variants intended to replace potentially stigmatising names referencing geographic locations. A quantitative content analysis was conducted to identify the names and frames present in Australian news media coverage before and after the new names were announced. Results demonstrate uptake of the new names but also indicate the potential for intended outcomes of de-stigmatisation to be compromised, particularly by persistent negative framing. These findings indicate that future health communication efforts might be strengthened by integrating disease naming considerations into ongoing public health preparedness efforts and support ongoing scholarly inquiry into naming and framing in news media communication.

Micro-patronage provides a new model of funding for research communication. This article uses the Lingthusiasm podcast as a case study to describe how micro-patronage can work and some of the benefits and challenges involved. The authors draw on their own experience of micro-patronage to demonstrate how to create sustainable projects. They also discuss how it sits alongside university funding structures, while also providing a measure of independence from those structures.

Movements opposing genetically modified organisms (GMOs) remain one of the most impactful protest movements in recent times, successfully suppressing the widespread global acceptance of GMOs through strategically crafted anti-GMO rhetoric. Yet, inadequate research has focused on the arguments used by GMO-promoting advocates. In this media content analysis study, inspired by the Neo-Aristotelian Method of Rhetorical Criticism (NAMRC), we analyze news articles about GMO technologies gathered from the most-read news portals in Ghana. We identify the rhetorical strategies used by GMO-promoting institutions that are reported in media interactions when the legitimacy of these technologies is questioned. We found that pro-GMO rhetoric focuses on themes of problem-solving technology, defensive advocacy, hope for the future, and scientific evidence to persuade publics. In the media coverage we analyzed, pro-GMO advocates defended both the safety of the technology and the legitimacy of scientific research and agricultural innovation. To ensure that advocacy for genetically modified crops is both responsible and credible, advocates of GMO technologies must strike a balance between conveying enthusiasm for these technologies and exercising caution about their limitations.

Coordinated attempts to promote systematic approaches to the design and evaluation of science communication efforts have generally lagged behind the proliferation and diversification of those efforts. To address this, we founded the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) Science of Science Communication Scientific Interest Group (SciOSciComm-SIG) and undertook a mixed-methods survey-based analysis of the group one year after its founding. Respondents indicated ongoing interest and some participation in public-facing science communication while identifying specific barriers, and praised the role of the SIG in expanding access to information about evidence-based practices.

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed media professionals to the complex challenge of communicating scientific uncertainty. Using an automated, dictionary-based approach, we examined how different types of publications addressed scientific uncertainty at both the onset and the declared end of the pandemic. In the early stages of this health crisis, both general interest and science-focused media showed increased scientific uncertainty scores, with specialised outlets using scientific uncertainty markers more frequently. When the pandemic was declared over, science-focused publications maintained high scientific uncertainty levels across all stories, while general interest media reverted to pre-COVID-19 levels. The findings provide insights for journalists and science communicators.

Cinema has long been a powerful medium for exploring and communicating scientific ideas. From its early days, film has served as both a tool for scientific documentation and a means of engaging the public with scientific concepts. While mainstream films have popularised scientific issues, independent cinema, distinct from Hollywood's commercial focus, offers more innovative and critical portrayals of science. By examining short films from the 2023 Braga Science Film Fest, this study investigates how independent films represent science and scientists. The findings reveal that while these films often depict scientists as adult white men, they challenge traditional stereotypes by avoiding common scientific tropes, like the mad scientist, and instead portray a more diverse range of scientific endeavours and behaviours, contributing to a nuanced understanding of science in society.

The workshop “Decide your Print” engages high school students outside of classroom settings, with sustainability challenges, focusing on fast fashion’s socio-technical systems. Using collaborative decision-making and systemic analysis, the activity fosters understanding of sustainability’s interrelated dimensions — socio-ecological, technological, political, economic. Combining dialogue, evidence-based education and participatory approaches, it promotes critical thinking and actionable solutions. Conducted at the 2023 Genoa Science Festival in Italy, the workshop aimed to empower participants to propose multi-level strategies, showcasing the potential of informal education to address sustainability through interdisciplinary learning and systemic reasoning.

 

The mitigation of the climate crisis demands effective communication strategies. Transforming food systems plays a key role in climate protection, not only by changing eating habits, but also by preventing food waste. While workplaces are commonly used for health promotion activities, they are a rare setting for science communication. This practice insight targets individual food waste reduction through a workshop at the workplace, including a lunch from rescued food, documentary screening, discussion, and expert presentation. It aimed to enhance participants’ self-efficacy and intention to reduce food waste. The effectiveness of the screening was tested experimentally by evaluating the effects of positive and negative framing. Exposure to negative framing was associated with higher intensity in negative affect, whereas positive framing appeared to be associated with higher self-efficacy. Furthermore, this practice insight provides strategies to foster science communication in workplaces.

Despite the rising popularity of video-based platforms, systematic guidelines for developing effective video-based science communication remain scarce. Training scientists in these skills is vital for combating misinformation and engaging audiences. This study reviewed evidence-based strategies for communicating science via video-based social media platforms, identifying 28 articles that included original video-based data and were published in the past decade. Articles were identified through library database searches, journal archives, and publication lists from relevant researchers. Predominantly focusing on YouTube (42.9%) and TikTok (28.6%), qualitative findings revealed best practices related to narrative structure, emotion and connection, video features, professionalism and quality, and social media strategies. Highlighting actionable strategies, this research provides valuable insights for scientists navigating the dynamic landscape of video-based science communication.

Signs used for science interpretation within national parks have been little studied. We analyzed the textual content of 129 signs in 11 US national parks. Science content was high, but readability was low overall and inversely related to the amount of science content. The amount of science varied by subject area and national park, as did the depth of information and its relevance to humans. Colorado’s Great Sand Dunes National Park, however, had signs containing high amounts of science with the highest readability scores, emphasizing the potential benefits for science communication that can come from understanding the science of signs.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is fundamentally transforming science communication. This editorial for the JCOM Special Issue “Science Communication in the Age of AI” explores the implications of AI, especially generative AI, for science communication, its promises and challenges. The articles in this Special Issue can be categorized into four key areas: (1) communication about AI, (2) communication with AI, (3) the impact of AI on science communication ecosystems, and (4) AI’s influence on science, theoretical and methodological approaches. This collection of articles advances empirical and theoretical insight into AI’s evolving role in science communication, emphasizing interdisciplinary and comparative perspectives.