Volume 23 • Issue 05 • 2024

Articles

Jun 17, 2024 Article
Housing activists' science communication: online practices as contextual and reflexive

by Andrea Schikowitz and Sarah R. Davies

Based on an understanding of science communication as `social conversation about science', in this paper we explore how technoscientific knowledge is communicated through housing activists' use of online media. We analyse collaborative housing groups in Vienna and find that their online communication practices are contextual and reflexive: technoscientific knowledges are always contextualised through the activists' political issues, while the activists constantly reflect on and negotiate their means and style of communication. The case both offers insights into the diverse ways and sites in which public sense-making about science takes place, and inspiration for other forms of science communication.

Volume 23 • Issue 05 • 2024

Jul 01, 2024 Article
Brazilian National Science and Technology Week: a case study on engagement behaviors and impacts on the public

by Wilmo Ernesto Francisco Junior

This practice insight describes a case study in which structured observation and questionnaires (for visitors and presenters) were combined to investigate a public science event during Brazilian National Science and Technology Week (NSTW) in 2019. A very large proportion of participants (68.6% of visitors and 25 of the 31 presenters) had been unaware of the NSTW. Among those visitors who showed initial engagement, more than half progressed towards more effective engagement behaviors. The relaxed atmosphere favored the public's participation. Activities in generic locations in less favored areas are relevant to reach out to a diverse audience. Further research is recommended for critical assessment of similar events.

Volume 23 • Issue 05 • 2024

Jul 08, 2024 Article
Exploring the behavioral mechanisms of Chinese scientists' public engagement with science based on an integrative model

by Yang Li and Lijun Zhu

Based on self-determination theory and the theory of planned behavior, this study explored the predictors and behavioral mechanisms associated with Chinese scientists' public engagement with science. The results indicated that scientists' participation was associated with their levels of perceived autonomy, their attitudes toward participation and the media, subjective norms, perceived policies, their own efficacy, specific facilitating conditions, habits related to communication, and their willingness to engage. Under different levels of autonomy, these indicators had different association with scientists' willingness to engage and their reported participation in science communication activities. As levels of controlled motivation (or external requirement to communicate) increased, more negative effects related to willingness to participate or self-reported participation were identified, and amotivation (a lack of motivation) had a direct negative association with participation. The theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.

Volume 23 • Issue 05 • 2024

Jul 15, 2024 Article
Science journalism in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: news sources engagement and [lack of] science accountability

by Abdullah Alhuntushi and Jairo Lugo-Ocando

In this article we explore normative professional expectations around science journalists in Saudi Arabia (KSA) and how news reporters do access, engage with, and use news sources. Against broader and more universal normative expectations, we found that journalists in that country used a low diversity of sources in science news reporting and depended on official and public relations sources. These findings point to a current lack of criticality in science media reporting in KSA and limited ability for media to hold science to account. In so doing, we offer explanations for the divergence and gaps.

Volume 23 • Issue 05 • 2024

Jul 29, 2024 Article
The power of dinosaurs: lessons learned from the sharing of #SciArt on Twitter

by Laerie McNeil, Chantal Barriault, Birha Farooqi, Ian Black, Ann Pegoraro and Thomas J. S. Merritt

We used netnographic analysis to outline a structure of the #SciArt community on Twitter/X finding a surprising interest in dinosaurs, even in the midst of a pandemic. Recently, SciArt, broadly, science-themed art, has gained attention among science communicators for its ability to engage a wide range of audiences in scientific findings. We gained insights into how paleoart passes between and among audiences and explored the phenomena of perennially popular dinosaur-themed works of SciArt in popular science communication. We discussed these effects and how they could be used to engage people with SciArt in science communication efforts.

Volume 23 • Issue 05 • 2024

Aug 05, 2024 Article
Metaphors of communication professionals in higher education: between the trivial and significant

by Hogne Lerøy Sataøen, Daniel Lövgren and Simon Neby

This study explores the evolving, however also “messy”, role of communication professionals in higher education institutions (HEIs), who are involved in organizational science communication. Despite substantial growth and professionalization within HEIs' communication departments, limited research delves into these professionals' own perspectives and their self-understanding. Our investigation employs a metaphors-in-use perspective, through 26 interviews in ten Scandinavian HEIs. The paper contributes to the research on organizational science communication by unraveling the metaphors used by communication professionals: the salesman, the marketplace-facilitator, the police, the missionary, the storyteller, and the overhead-cost, gaining an understanding of how communication professionals perceive their own role.

Volume 23 • Issue 05 • 2024

Aug 19, 2024 Article
Understanding public perceptions of revolutionary technology: the role of political ideology, knowledge, and news consumption

by Chia-Ho Ryan Wen and Yi-Ning Katherine Chen

This study investigates public perceptions of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Taiwan, focusing on the roles of political ideology, science news consumption, and knowledge. Analyzing responses from 502 participants, the research reveals that political ideology has a limited impact on AI benefit perceptions but likely becomes more significant with increased AI application. The study suggests that, for narrow AI, science news consumption and content knowledge are more influential than political ideology. It emphasizes the need for tailored communication strategies and highlights the positive association between respect for science authority and favorable AI perceptions. The findings provide essential insights for policymakers navigating AI adoption.

Volume 23 • Issue 05 • 2024

Practice Insights

Jun 10, 2024 Practice Insight
Measuring the impacts of participatory citizen science: lessons from the WeCount sustainable mobility project

by Ana Margarida Sardo, Sophie Laggan, Laura Fogg-Rogers, Elke Franchois, Giovanni Maccani, Kris Vanherle and Enda Hayes

WeCount was designed to empower citizens in five case studies across Europe to take a leading role in the production of data, evidence, knowledge and solutions for local sustainable mobility. This practice insight aims to explore the suitability and value of citizen science to address sustainable mobility and sustainable transport issues. The evaluation showed that WeCount was able to reach and sustain engagement with broad demographics in society and highlighted the importance of co-design in making citizen science enjoyable and empowering. Statistical significance was found: the more a citizen enjoyed their time, the more likely they were to state they would continue working with the data beyond the project. Moreover, WeCount citizens reported that participation led to action and/or changes in behaviours. While the numbers are modest (24 individual actions by around 10% of participants), this is an important, measurable outcome.

Volume 23 • Issue 05 • 2024

Jun 24, 2024 Practice Insight
Increasing culturally relevant science media coverage: exploring the outcomes of a collaboration in Puerto Rico

by Mónica I. Feliú Mójer, Andrea Isabel López, Wilson González-Espada, Ernesto Cabezas Bou, Claudia Colón-Echevarría, Ailed Cruz Collazo, Jetsimary García-Justiniano, José Liquet y González, Charlene Rivera-Bonet, Angelie Rivera-Rodríguez, Attabey Rodríguez Benítez, Luis Alexis Rodríguez-Cruz, Priscila Rodríguez García and Giovanna Guerrero-Medina

CienciaPR, a nonprofit that brings together the largest network of Puerto Rican scientists and one of the largest networks of Hispanic/Latine scientists in the world, has collaborated with El Nuevo Día (END), Puerto Rico's newspaper of record, to increase culturally relevant stories in their science section. This Practice Insight quantifies and compares the presence of culturally relevant elements (e.g., referring to Puerto Rico, local landmarks, historic figures, slang) and other content information (e.g., topics, location, focus, protagonist) in articles authored by CienciaPR members versus articles by END, news agencies, and other organizations. Results demonstrate that CienciaPR-authored articles published in END featured culturally relevant elements more often (e.g., mentioned Puerto Rico, used Puerto Rican slang, stories located in Puerto Rico) than those by other sources.

Volume 23 • Issue 05 • 2024

Jul 24, 2024 Practice Insight
Citizen science and science communication: toward a more inclusive pattern?

by Federica Cagnoli

Despite research calls in citizen science and science communication for more participatory approaches, practical attempts are uncommon. This practice insight focuses on a significant barrier to adopting a participatory approach — the lack of inclusion. In this project, I identified the barriers and determinants of inclusion through a literature review, and then I developed and tested a framework applicable to participatory science communication projects to determine if projects recognise and address inclusion considerations. I successfully tested the framework using reports from a European citizen science project. By considering inclusion criteria as essential for participatory science communication, this framework may help practitioners account for inclusion considerations during the design and monitoring stages of the project cycle.

Volume 23 • Issue 05 • 2024

Aug 26, 2024 Practice Insight
A deaf-centred art-science approach to community engagement with sign language technologies

by Shaun O'Boyle, Elizabeth Mathews, Caro Brosens, Rehana Omardeen, Davy Van Landuyt, Alvean Jones and Lianne Quigley

Sign Language Machine Translation (SLMT) is an emerging technology that will primarily impact deaf and hard of hearing communities. Historically, these technologies have been developed by hearing scientists, without input from deaf researchers or community representatives. SignON was a three-year project exploring the application of SLMT, and using a co-creation approach which was led by the European Union of the Deaf. Here we describe an art-science method to engage deaf, hard of hearing, and hearing audiences with SLMT through theatre and performance. We also reflect on the insights, perspectives, and feedback shared by audience members.

Volume 23 • Issue 05 • 2024

Essays

Aug 07, 2024 Essay
Science communication in a diverse world

by Bruce V. Lewenstein

Recent years have brought a welcome and needed attention to diversity and inclusion in science communication. This diversity covers language, geography, religion, gender, sexuality — and politics. But with diversity comes complication, where our interest in public communication of science and technology comes in conflict with our identities, our politics, and sometimes even our moral positions. This paper presents a number of examples, highlighting the need for science communicators to be self-reflective about their commitments and how they shape their activities as science communicator practitioners and researchers.

Volume 23 • Issue 05 • 2024

Conference Reviews

Jul 18, 2024 Conference Review
International Symposium on Public Communication of Science and Technology in Zacatecas, Mexico: between diversity, inclusion and pending questions

by Margoth Mena-Young

There are current challenges that affect the Public Communication of Science and Technology that must be thought about collectively and for which there are still no answers. These challenges include changes in media ecosystems and consumer preferences; decline of democratic systems and rise of populism; advance of the planetary crisis; growing social inequalities; economic crises and budget cuts; exacerbated misinformation; and distrust in science and its agents; to mention a few examples. The space proposed by the International Symposium on Public Communication of Science and Technology 2024 and the IX National Colloquium on Scientific Recreation, held in Zacatecas, Mexico, was ideal to share several questions — theoretical and practical — that are a guide to address current challenges in this profession.

Volume 23 • Issue 05 • 2024

Jul 22, 2024 Conference Review
#AISCICOMM24. Discussing the role of (generative) AI for science communication research and science communication practice

by Julia Metag

The annual conference of the Science Communication Division of the German Communication Association (DGPuK) was held in Zurich, Switzerland, from 5–7 June 2024. The conference attracted around 125 researchers and science communication practitioners from Europe and beyond. In this review, I provide an overview of the conference and discuss some of the challenges for researching AI in science communication as well as for science communication practice.

Volume 23 • Issue 05 • 2024

Archive