A special toolbox and a European Competence Centre to foster excellence in science communication: that, amongst other things, is what science communicators from across Europe are working to establish. They are part of the EU-funded project COALESCE (Coordinated Opportunities for Advanced Leadership and Engagement in Science Communication in Europe).
Science communication has never been more important. With science and technology at the heart of solutions to global challenges such as climate change, pandemics and food security, conveying the results of scientific research in an accessible and engaging way is crucial for citizens to make informed decisions.
The rise in mis- and disinformation and the polarisation of opinions about science have prompted scientists and science communicators to adopt more diverse and inclusive science communication practices. However, effective science communication also faces the problem that science doesn’t always have definitive answers.
Professor Jason Pridmore, coordinator of the COALESCE project: “As scientists we want to talk about the nuances. Providing clear and accessible answers while conveying this uncertainty is a real challenge.”
Read the full interview with Jason Pridmore
The COALESCE project consortium consists of 13 partners from 8 countries, all of whom have previously been involved in the EU’s “Science with and for Society” (SwafS-19) programme, which focussed on understanding how results from research are communicated and perceived by citizens and on developing methods to improve public trust in science.
COALESCE partners at academic institutions and SMEs specialising in science communication research-practice, training and participatory strategies, will share and consolidate the knowledge gained from previous and ongoing projects in a European Competence Centre. They will also help to build capacity by creating a science communication academy, contribute to define and promote high-quality science communication, and advocate for its support and recognition.
Virtual platform and crisis navigator
Following the launch of the virtual platform last September, with a crisis navigator for rapid mobilisation of science communication, this year will see the addition of an interactive scicomm toolbox full of tried and tested resources. The European Competence Centre for Science Communication is set to be fully operational by March 2027.
As Joana Magalhães, Science Communication Area manager at Science for Change and COALESCE co-coordinator explains, “COALESCE is all about holistically bringing the best of European science communication together, it will provide resources and connections to make science communication a core part of how we do science in Europe.”
Regional and national hubs
To ensure that the Competence Centre is built by and for the community, the project is establishing a series of regional and national hubs that will physically represent the Competence Centre in each member state.
Aoife Taylor, Research Project Manager at Trinity College Dublin, which represents the Irish hub: “Through national and regional hubs, we are developing meaningful relationships with experts in different regions so we can share high-quality resources and support each other. They will give the Competence Centre a physical presence as well as local relevance.” – Read the full interview with Aoife Tayle
As part of the COALESCE project, partners have been attending policy events and conferences to gather insights from different stakeholders in science communication and form networks. “We want the Competence Centre to bridge the gap between science, science communicators and policy makers and improve how science informs policy at all levels, from local to regional, national and EU levels,” she adds.
Recommendations
With contributions from representatives from each member state, project partners will be drafting recommendations for research organisations and funding bodies focused around relevant topics such as maintaining support for science communication and recognising the value of science communicators.
A key priority for the consortium is to ensure that the Competence Centre is sustainable. Partners are actively working with university alliances, research centres and independent funders to develop a business strategy that ensures the Centre’s continuity after the COALESCE project ends in 2027.
By their own admission, there is still a lot of work to be done. “We are trying to cover all aspects of science communication so we need to draw on the strengths of the community, and not just across topics, but across countries as well,” Pridmore says.
Matchmaking tool
Over the coming months, COALESCE partners will be testing various training formats for the academy, launching a matchmaking tool that will connect journalists with scientists, and they will also continue working on an inclusive and evidence-based set of Standards, Principles and Criteria (SPCs) to ensure the quality of the Centre’s resources. The approach to develop the SPCs is based on that used in the ENJOI project to identify Principles, Standards and Indicators for Outstanding Science Communication and state-of-the-art research on impact evaluation.
In short, the Competence Centre will provide a wealth of open-access resources for everyone, from researchers to funding agencies and educators seeking different types of training materials or connections with trainers and facilitators.
By facilitating the sharing of resources that can be adapted to local contexts and languages, the Centre will raise the quality of science communication across Europe. “I genuinely believe that we have some real opportunities here,” Pridmore concludes.
Useful links:
• Project website
• Video: ‘Launch of European Competence Centre for Science Communication’
Related content:
• A scientist’s opinion: Interview with Professor Jason Pridmore on science communication and the COALESCE project
• A scientist’s opinion: interview with Aoife Taylor on science communication and the COALESCE project