Filter by keyword: Science communication: theory and models

Publications including this keyword are listed below.

191 publications found

Sep 15, 2025 Review Article

A scoping review on the connection between research and practice in science communication

by Nuria Saladie, Carolina Llorente and Gema Revuelta

The purpose of this scoping review is to examine the available research on the relationship between research and practice in the field of science communication, identifying barriers and solutions to their disconnect. This scoping review was conducted using the Arksey and O'Malley framework. Results indicate that the main barrier is the inefficient communication between the two domains, and that the main solution lies in changing some modus operandi in science communication. In conclusion, this scoping review provides novel insights to build bridges between research and practice for the advancement of science communication.

Volume 24 • Issue 05 • 2025

Aug 20, 2025 Conference Review

Science communication and its role in communication research: reflections from the 4th Science Communication Preconference at ICA25

by Janise Brück

Held one day before the 75th ICA conference, the fourth Science Communication Preconference brought together about 60 international researchers to explore the role and contribution of science communication to the broader field of communication research. The conference’s emphasis on inclusion, global perspectives, and theoretical development, as underscored by two keynotes and 23 presentations, was highlighted by the official recognition of science communication as an ICA interest group – an encouraging milestone for the field at a time when science is increasingly under pressure.

Volume 24 • Issue 4 • 2025

Jul 28, 2025 Article

Profiling the geoscience community: exploring patterns of science communication and public engagement

by Joana Rodrigues, Cecília Castro, Elsa Costa e Silva and Diamantino Insua Pereira

This research investigates how members of the geoscience community in Portugal perceive and engage in science communication, identifying distinct patterns and practitioner profiles. Statistical analysis and a clustering algorithm were used to identify communication patterns based on practitioners' communication goals, target audiences, training, and self-efficacy. The results align with expected patterns but provide new empirical evidence of the relationship between communication goals and audience targeting, offering specific data for the geoscience community.

Volume 24 • Issue 4 • 2025

May 14, 2025 Article

Science on screen: the representation of science in independent films

by Edite Felgueiras and Teresa Ruão

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.

Volume 24 • Issue 03 • 2025

Apr 14, 2025 Article

Behind the Screens: How Algorithmic Imaginaries Shape Science Content on Social Media

by Clarissa Elisa Walter and Sascha Friesike

Based on an ethnography of the development and production of science YouTube videos – a collaboration between a German public broadcaster and social science scholars – we identify three intermediary steps through which recommendation algorithms shape science content on social media. We argue that algorithms induce changes to science content through the power they exert over the content's visibility on social media platforms. Change is driven by how practitioners interpret algorithms, infer content strategies to enhance visibility, and adjust content creation practices accordingly. By unpacking these intermediate steps, we reveal the nuanced mechanisms by which algorithms indirectly shape science content.

Volume 24 • Issue 02 • 2025 • Science Communication in the Age of Artificial Intelligence (Science Communication & AI)

Feb 10, 2025 Book Review

Bridging the gap between scientists and the public: “Science v. Story”

by Douglas A. Levy

Emma Frances Bloomfield's “Science v. Story: Narrative Strategies for Science Communicators”, presents ways to improve science communication in the face of declining public trust. Bloomfield's work highlights the power of narrative, demonstrating how anti-science movements have effectively leveraged storytelling to popularize their messages. If scientists adopt narrative strategies, they can bridge the gap between the scholarly community and the public and make complex information more accessible and relatable. Bloomfield's approach provides a roadmap for navigating the complexities of science communication in an era where many people are swayed more by personal connection than credibility or facts.

Volume 24 • Issue 01 • 2025

Jan 27, 2025 Practice Insight

Scientists' views about relationship-based science communication strategies

by Nancy L. Staus, Julie Risien and Holly Cho

Scientists are increasingly expected to share their research with the public using learner-centered strategies that build trust, such as engaging in relationship-building activities. A growing number of science communication training programs have been developed to address this need but little is known about whether and how scientists value such programs. In this paper we examine scientists' experiences with the STEM Ambassadors Program (STEMAP), a science communication training program that aims to build relationships for open-minded exchange between scientists and the public. We discuss benefits and challenges for scientists when using the STEMAP model for public outreach.

Volume 24 • Issue 01 • 2025

Jan 13, 2025 Practice Insight

Climate change is (NOT) funny: insights from a climate change comedy event

by James Riley and Alexander Hall

In recent years there has been an increasing call for new modes of climate change communication. These calls have gone beyond classic consensus-building and fact-sharing to addressing affective dimensions and meaning-making in relation to the climate crisis. In this article we reflect on a proof-of-concept climate change comedy project — “Climate Change is NOT Funny!”. Building on audience and performer insights, we reflect on the effectiveness and affective dimensions of comedy as a climate change communication method, as well as institutional and funding constraints on delivery. Finally, we introduce how we designed our project to go on making an impact beyond the grant's lifespan. By empowering professional comedians to embed new research-informed climate change material into their regular sets, we argue that our approach can amplify the reach of climate communication activities, and in turn provide new forums for individuals to engage with the most pressing aspects of the climate crisis.

Volume 24 • Issue 01 • 2025

Nov 25, 2024 Article

Anthropomorphism and motivating participation in citizen science projects

by Zoey Rosen, Marilee Long, Bonne Ford, Eric A. Wendt, Michael Cheeseman, Casey Quinn, Christian L'Orange, John Volckens and Jeffrey R. Pierce

Maintaining long-term participation in citizen science projects is challenging; thus, it is important for project developers to use effective techniques to motivate participants. One approach is to incorporate anthropomorphism (ascribing humanlike qualities to a non-human agent) when designing and deploying technology. In a quasi-experimental study conducted as part of the Citizen-Enabled Aerosol Measurements for Satellites (CEAMS) citizen science project, we investigated the relationship between anthropomorphism and motivation to participate in citizen science. Findings showed partial support for the relationship between anthropomorphism and motivation.

Volume 23 • Issue 08 • 2024

Oct 28, 2024 Review Article

Characterization of polarized scientific digital messages: a scoping review

by Ana Maria Jucá, Matheus Lotto, Agnes Cruvinel and Thiago Cruvinel

This scoping review elucidated the characteristics of polarized scientific digital messages credited by researchers for studying the impact of content on people's perceptions. Inclusion criteria encompassed discourse and content analysis studies examining the syntactic and lexical features of polarized messages in online science communication, as well as crossover and randomized information intervention studies. Studies without sufficient detail for data extraction or that did not address message characteristics were excluded. After these exclusions, 10 studies were evaluated for the outcomes. Characteristics of polarized messages were observed to include topic dependency, single viewpoint, discredit of opposing views, emphasis on the minority and flaws of concurrent discourses, and uses of assertive statements, intensifiers, controversy, partisanship, skepticism, sarcasm, vague lexicons, and expert opinion support. As a result, we propose a system of codification for identifying and characterizing polarized discourses in science communication digital messages that can be employed in further content analysis studies.

Volume 23 • Issue 08 • 2024