Filter by author: Marina Joubert

Aug 17, 2026 Article

Making science part of `The Conversation' — benefits and barriers experienced by researchers as authors writing for The Conversation Africa

by Dr Lili Rademan , Marina Joubert , Lars Guenther

As an online platform for scientists to share their expertise with diverse audiences within a journalistic context, The Conversation provides a novel link between science and society. This study examines the benefits and barriers experienced by researchers who write for the African edition of this platform. We analysed 3560 author profiles, 5392 articles, and conducted 21 interviews with authors. We found that authors were motivated mainly by moral duty but also wanted to enhance the policy impact of their work. Becoming an author was perceived as beneficial for visibility, networking, and career development. Key barriers included time constraints, concerns about oversimplification, and a lack of institutional rewards. Authors valued the editorial process that allowed them to initiate an article and control the final version before publication. The study contributes to understanding how researchers experience and engage with novel science communication platforms.

Volume 25Issue 62026

Aug 03, 2026 Editorial

What editors look for: preparing a JCOM manuscript for a smooth review

by Marina Joubert , Michelle Riedlinger

As submissions to JCOM continue to rise and high-quality peer reviews become harder to secure, this editorial sets out what the journal's editors look for in a manuscript at each stage of the review process. It outlines the desk-review and peer-review criteria we apply, namely: scope and relevance; novelty and originality; grounding in existing scholarship; article type and formatting requirements; methodological rigour; openness and transparency; quality of writing and referencing; and clear declaration of any AI use. Written for prospective authors, it offers practical guidance for preparing a strong submission and reaffirms JCOM's commitment, as a diamond open-access journal, to publish rigorous, relevant and diverse science communication research and practice.

Volume 25Issue 62026

Jul 08, 2026 Commentary

Scientists under fire: lessons from the Omicron case

by Mrs Kim Darley Waddilove , Nothando Ngwenya , Marina Joubert

Scientists face growing pressure to share their research with the public — an ethical and professional duty that can sometimes lead to public hostility when addressing sensitive, controversial, or unpopular topics. Negative reactions from society, often worsened by social media, threaten not only the scientists themselves but also public trust in science and the integrity of knowledge systems. This commentary presents a case study of two scientists based in southern Africa, Professor Tulio de Oliveira and Professor Sikhulile Moyo, who identified the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) in November 2021. After sharing their findings with the relevant authorities, they encountered a wave of public criticism and abuse. Using insights from interviews with these scientists, we examine the different forms of this abuse, its impact, and the coping strategies they employed. We highlight the broader lessons this case offers for contemporary science communication, arguing that protecting scientists who face public backlash when sharing their research is essential for safeguarding science as a whole. We also suggest ways individuals, institutions, and the scientific community can create more supportive research environments for scientists working on potentially sensitive political or social issues.

Volume 25Issue 42026

Mar 11, 2026 Editorial

Integrity under pressure: on generative AI, fabricated references and ethical publishing

by Marina Joubert , Michelle Riedlinger

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools are increasingly present in academic writing workflows, and their irresponsible use poses a growing threat to the integrity of scholarly publishing. In this editorial, we highlight the emergence of AI-generated references, or so-called “ghost references”, as a specific concern for JCOM and the wider academic community. We consider how AI tools like large language models can produce convincing yet fictitious citations that might bypass standard peer review. Also, we reaffirm JCOM's policy requiring full disclosure of any generative AI use in preparing manuscripts, remind authors that the responsibility for accuracy and integrity lies with those whose names appear on submissions, and outline our commitment to reject, withdraw, or retract manuscripts found to contain fabricated content at any stage of the publication process. As a journal dedicated to science communication, JCOM maintains a strong focus on the honest and transparent development of knowledge.

Volume 25Issue 12026

Oct 21, 2024 Article

The coverage of basic and applied research in press releases on EurekAlert!

by Jingwen Zhang , Marina Joubert , Jonathan Dudek , Rodrigo Costas

Research organisations routinely reach out to the media via press releases to announce research news and promote advances in science. This paper explores the presence of basic and applied research in press releases issued through EurekAlert!. Using a scientometric approach to classify research papers featured in press releases into basic and applied research, we found that more than half of the press releases in our dataset were related to basic research. This trend was particularly notable in life and earth sciences, physical sciences, and engineering fields. In contrast, press releases in the biomedical and health sciences, as well as in social sciences and humanities, were more frequently associated with applied research. Additionally, we present findings on the similarity and readability of press releases compared to their corresponding research papers, which confirm the role of institutional press officers in making research papers more accessible to the public and media. This adaptation appears to be more pronounced for basic research.

Volume 23Issue 072024Special Issue: Communicating Discovery Science (Discovery Science)

Dec 11, 2023 Article

The distribution of science communication teaching around the globe

by Luisa Massarani , Heather Bray , Marina Joubert , Andy Ridgway , Joseph Roche , Fiona Smyth , Elizabeth Stevenson , Frans van Dam , Willian Vieira de Abreu

In the context of a special issue of this journal focused on teaching science communication, we present a map of the geographical distribution of 122 science communication teaching programmes from 31 countries around the world. This mapping study resulted from a collaboration between members of the PCST Teaching Forum and the research team at GlobalSCAPE, a research project funded by the European Commission to explore the global state of science communication. Our findings highlight the concentration of these programmes in the U.S.A. and Europe, and the dominance of English as the language of instruction. We ponder the causes and implications of the disparities in opportunities for studying science communication in other world regions and languages. The dearth of science communication educational pathways in developing countries may limit the professionalisation of the field, as well as research and evidence-based practice that is locally needed and relevant.

Volume 22Issue 062023Special Issue: Science communication in higher education: global perspectives on the teaching of science communication (Teaching Science Communication)

Jun 28, 2023 Editorial

Reflecting and Renewing to Strengthen JCOM

by Michelle Riedlinger , Marina Joubert

During June 2023, we met with the JCOM editorial board members to reflect on the current status of the journal and strategies for future growth. This editorial provides a snapshot of our position and plans.

Volume 22Issue 042023

Jan 18, 2023 Article

`Pandem-icons' — exploring the characteristics of highly visible scientists during the Covid-19 pandemic

by Marina Joubert , Lars Guenther , Jenni Metcalfe , Michelle Riedlinger , Anwesha Chakraborty , Toss Gascoigne , Bernard Schiele , Ayelet Baram-Tsabari , Dmitry Malkov , Eliana Fattorini , Gema Revuelta , Germana Barata , Jan Riise , Justin T. Schröder , Maja Horst , Margaret Kaseje , Marnell Kirsten , Martin W. Bauer , Massimiano Bucchi , Natália Flores , Orli Wolfson , Tingjie Chen

The Covid-19 pandemic escalated demand for scientific explanations and guidance, creating opportunities for scientists to become publicly visible. In this study, we compared characteristics of visible scientists during the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic (January to December 2020) across 16 countries. We find that the scientists who became visible largely matched socio-cultural criteria that have characterised visible scientists in the past (e.g., age, gender, credibility, public image, involvement in controversies). However, there were limited tendencies that scientists commented outside their areas of expertise. We conclude that the unusual circumstances created by Covid-19 did not change the phenomenon of visible scientists in significant ways.

Volume 22Issue 012023

Nov 07, 2022 Commentary

Twenty years of science communication: looking back, looking forward

by Michelle Riedlinger , Marina Joubert

Our 20th anniversary this year is a special milestone for JCOM. It is a time to reflect on our past performance and future prospects. We pause to consider the activities of this journal, and the broad field of science communication over the past 20 years.

What is ‘‘science communication’’?

by Bruce V Lewenstein

Have we ever been satisfied with Science Communication? Continuity and change

by Massimiano Bucchi

Advancing inclusion through culturally relevant science communication: a perspective from Puerto Rico

by Mónica I. Feliú Mójer

Citizen science communication and engagement: a growing concern for researchers and practitioners

by Susanne Hecker

Exploring the politics of science communication research: looking at science communication from a social justice perspective

by Emily Dawson, Stephen Hughes, Simon J. Lock and Michel Wahome

Twenty years of teaching science communication — a personal reflection

by Nancy Longnecker

Science communication: a messy conundrum of practice, research and theory

by Jennifer Metcalfe

Research in science communication in Latin America: mind the gap

by Luisa Massarani and Thaiane Oliveira

Volume 21Issue 072022

Sep 21, 2022 Conference Review

#ecsite2022 — a festive and reflexive gathering of science communicators

by Vanessa Mignan , Marina Joubert

The 2022 Ecsite conference took place in Heilbronn, Germany, from 2–4 June after two years of virtual meetings due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This review presents some highlights of this event, including two memorable keynote talks by disability activist Sinéad Burke and author/educator Lucy Hawking.

Volume 21Issue 062022

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