Date of publication
Aug 20, 2026
Category:
Book Review
by
Byron Hyde
The Joint Research Centre's recent report offers communicators ten actionable recommendations organised around a “trustworthiness-first” principle: that communicators should build trust by being trustworthy rather than by deploying trust-building as a strategic technique. The report draws on behavioural science, values-based audience segmentation, and original empirical research, and takes a firm stand against manipulation. Its central weakness is that trustworthiness and trust have a weaker empirical relationship than the report acknowledges: being trustworthy does not reliably produce trust, and can sometimes paradoxically decrease trust Hyde2025,Hyde2026c.
Volume 25 • Issue 6 • 2026
Date of publication
Aug 05, 2026
Category:
Book Review
by
Kristian H. Nielsen
This review examines the second edition of Creative Research Communication by Clare Wilkinson and Emma Weitkamp. The updated edition provides a comprehensive introduction to research communication, combining theoretical perspectives with practical guidance. It covers topics such as public engagement, digital communication, policy engagement, inclusivity, professionalisation and generative AI. The review discusses the book's contribution as an accessible and timely resource for researchers, students and communication professionals.
Volume 25 • Issue 6 • 2026
Date of publication
Jul 29, 2026
Category:
Review Article
by
Nils Bienzeisler
,
Yael Barel-Ben David
,
Prof. Melanie Keller
Completing a questionnaire about science that comes from science likely requires at least some trust in science. Why else would one take the time to do so? Thus, the question of whom we survey is not trivial in science communication research. Therefore, this review examines how science communication researchers approach sampling in 404 quantitative survey studies published in the Journal of Science Communication, Public Understanding of Science, and Science Communication. Our findings show that they heavily rely on non-probability samples, often drawn from access panels. Sampling procedures are often vaguely described. As a consequence, we propose five steps to improve sampling in science communication research: report sampling procedures, reserve non-probability samples for experimental or exploratory work, apply probability sampling for generalizations, foster innovation, and design meaningful quotas beyond demographics.
Volume 25 • Issue 4 • 2026
Date of publication
Jul 22, 2026
Category:
Essay
by
Rainer Bromme
,
Dorothe Kienhues
In this essay, we draw on the existing literature to discuss the roles for emotions in science communication. There is a widespread perception that emotions are detrimental to quality, particularly as a threat to the objectivity of science. This paper challenges this view by discussing the potential positive and negative effects of emotions on both the producers and recipients of science communication. Additionally, we outline the motivational and heuristic functions of emotions. Finally, we consider the place and roles for emotions in different models of science communication. The essay aims to support both producers and recipients of science communication in reflecting on their own emotions and the emotions of their counterpart.
Volume 25 • Issue 4 • 2026
Date of publication
Jul 20, 2026
Category:
Essay
by
Masoud Irani
,
Dr Gabi Mocatta
,
Prof. Paul Venzo
,
Alexander Hall
A substantial body of empirical research identifies participatory models of science communication as best practice for achieving social, ethical, or governance objectives, particularly where dialogue, inclusion and public influence are central. At the same time, storytelling has emerged as a widely used strategy for engaging audiences with scientific issues, helping audiences make informed decisions, and shaping community attitudes and behaviours regarding science-related topics. Drawing on narrative studies, this essay examines how storytelling contributes to audience engagement through processes such as narrative transportation, simulation, and p-responses. It argues that reading or listening to stories is not a passive activity, and that these forms of audience engagement can be understood as interpretive and affective involvement. Storytelling does not always support participation in the dialogic or co-productive sense (typically associated with participatory science communication), but it can always support some of the aims of participatory approaches, such as fostering reflection, empathy, and relevance. While remaining analytically distinct from participatory practices that involve audience input and influence, it plays a valuable and complementary role in science communication by enhancing audience accessibility and resonance.
Volume 25 • Issue 4 • 2026
Date of publication
Jul 13, 2026
Category:
Article
by
Miriam Welz
This theoretical article introduces academic saviourism as a concept that explains how inclusion efforts in science communication can at times unintentionally reproduce epistemic hierarchies, and end up being symbolic rather than transformative. Building on theories like Bourdieu's habitus, Archer et al.'s science capital, and Critical Race Studies' perspectives on the White Savior Industrial Complex, I draw out three interrelated manifestations of academic saviourism: (1) affective burdens on marginalised individuals, (2) the performative inclusion practices of science communication institutions, and (3) the underlying normative assumptions that shape how science communication actors understand marginalised communities' needs and participation.
Volume 25 • Issue 5 • 2026 • Transitions in Science Communication: Continuity and Change (PCST 2025)
Date of publication
Jul 13, 2026
Category:
Review Article
by
Marjo Pauliina Honkaranta
,
Tomi Laapotti
,
Tanja Sihvonen
This state-of-the-art literature review advances the shift in science communication research towards an organisational perspective, moving focus from individual researchers' capabilities to the role of organisational structures and practices. It explores how temporary collaborative research organisations, such as research projects, organise their activities, and examines the link between organisational structuring and science communication. Offering a structured overview, the review identifies research gaps and contributes to systematising the field by proposing a conceptual framework that integrates the communicative constitution of organisations (CCO) theory with institutional approaches to science communication. The literature reveals three key organisational dimensions: contextual conditions, cooperation, and communication. In addition to previously recognised components of `organisationality' — actorhood, identity, and interconnected decision-making — contextual conditions are also shown to play a role in organising in temporary research organisations. The theoretically driven framework supports the defragmentation of the research field and provides a foundation for future inquiry.
Volume 25 • Issue 5 • 2026 • Transitions in Science Communication: Continuity and Change (PCST 2025)
Date of publication
Jul 13, 2026
Category:
Article
by
Janise Brück
Science communication experiences major transitions: alongside science journalists, scientists, their institutions, and public relations departments increasingly select and communicate science information to publics, thereby stepping into gatekeeping roles. To better understand this “shared gatekeeping” and how different science communicators select topics, this article investigates relevance criteria that guide selection and communication decisions of science information. Drawing on 57 interviews with German-speaking science journalists, science public relations practitioners, and scientists, the study identifies and compares relevance criteria for each group based on the hierarchy of influences model. Findings reveal a wide range of relevance criteria as well as similarities and differences at individual, communication routines, organizational, and social institutional levels. Although all groups seem to be guided by similar, partly journalistic, relevance criteria (e.g., overlapping goals, topic characteristics), they operate within distinct professional contexts and thus weigh these criteria differently.
Volume 25 • Issue 5 • 2026 • Transitions in Science Communication: Continuity and Change (PCST 2025)
Date of publication
Jun 29, 2026
Category:
Letter
by
John C Besley
,
Sara K. Yeo
,
Anthony Dudo
,
Shupei Yuan
This response to the commentary “Does science communication have its goals wrong? From persuading science skeptics to promoting scientific empowerment” argues that the field would benefit from more attention to the persuasion literature, not less. A primary element of this argument is that a nuanced understanding of persuasion research can provide opportunities to achieve a wide range of goals — including empowering others — in ethical, evidence-based ways.
Publisher's note: this letter refers to Does science communication have its goals wrong? From persuading science skeptics to promoting scientific empowerment
Volume 25 • Issue 4 • 2026
Date of publication
May 06, 2026
Category:
Article
by
Peter Fischer
,
Barbara Thies
This study investigates how specific narrative elements, termed narrative depth, influence perceived story quality, transportation, and topic interest in science communication. Using structural equation modelling and experimental group comparisons, we examined the relationships between vivid imagery, protagonist emotions and motivations, and narrative engagement. Results showed that while narrative depth did not significantly impact perceived story quality, transportation emerged as a key mediator between perceived quality and topic interest. Additionally, women and individuals with higher education reported greater transportation and topic interest. These findings provide important insights into factors that influence the potency of stories in the context of science communication.
Volume 25 • Issue 3 • 2026
