Discover the world of WissKomm: Research & Science Communication
The vision: Establish a community that works together to drive cultural change. Each of us has wishes and visions for the field of public engagement. Often a “stronger networking” was desired. During the symposium, we took the first steps towards this.
We found the SciCommSci Club via Twitter. On its website, the club describes itself as a place for dialogue and discussion about the science of science communication. The club is a place for networking.
The most diverse professional groups work together in SciComm. Bias, but also the hierarchical arrangement in the team can influence communication.
By communicating “out loud”, the work of scientists becomes transparent. Trust is built up. In addition, the colleagues develop a better understanding of the processes among themselves. This enables them to work together better. This also helps science communication.
The list of science communication podcasts is long. Almost every organization or institution uses this audio format. How about a common place to start?
The Berlin School of Public Engagement and Open Science promotes communication and dialogue formats between research and the public. The idea is to create an exchange between science and the public. Each side will have the opportunity to contribute its voice. The motto is “Strategy first, product second”.
When scientists speak directly with citizens, they receive direct information and can ask questions about it. In this way, possible reservations about a research result are classified and can be better addressed in the future. Even though some formats already exist, the dialogue with society in general is not very legitimised by scientific institutions.
Talk to citizens about research. That’s the approach of Cyber Valley’s AI consultion hour from Tübingen, Germany. Public Engagement Manager Patrick Klügel shares his experiences.
Public Engagement is no longer just a theoretical concept in Germany, but is increasingly being implemented – unfortunately still too little. Yet with dialogue formats, science and society would learn in equal measure.
SciComm at the UK is much more about dialogue than in Germany. Among scientists, it is popular to present their research to a broad audience. Public engagement is an integral part of SciComm. There are some organizations that support research institutions. It would be nice if Germany could be more inspired by the UK.