Farrugia D – PCST Network

Author: Danielle Martine Farrugia, Malta

Co-authors:

Alexander Gerber – Rhine-Waal University, Germany
Eric Jensen – Senior Research Fellow, ICORSA, Netherlands

What is the added value of analysing science communication networks? Manifold definitions and types of networks exist, depending for instance on epistemic interest, methodological focus, and scale of analysis. These network types are articulated based on their diverse functions. Since some of the main functions of science communication networks is to understand how to engage various stakeholders with science and share information and best practices, a study was conducted by Danielle Martine Farrugia (Science Communicator & lecturer, PhD student, University of Malta) as part of Work Package seven within the “RRING” project [http://www.rring.eu/] [led by Dr Gordon Dalton, supervised by Prof. Alexander Gerber] and her PhD research to understand how these networks are founded and grown, structured and governed.

Science communication is embedded in social structures and driven by forces that go well beyond science: gender, race, class, access to power and other factors. How do these professional networks ensure that their members are engaged? What motivates science communication professionals to join such a network? How relevant are these networks to their members, and why are certain people deciding not to join (or leave) a network? What are the success criteria for sustaining a network that keeps on serving its members and relevant to their members’ needs? While some networks seem to grow, other network perish or cease to exist.

This talk will explore networks with a focus or related to public engagement with science such as Public Communication with Science and Technology (PCST), World Federation of Science Journalists (WFSJ) and International government for science advise (INGSA) and the role these science communication networks serve to its members/potential members.

The author has not yet submitted a copy of the full paper.

Presentation type: Individual paper
Theme: Time

Author: Danielle Martine Farrugia, Malta

Co-authors:

Alexander Gerber – Rhine-Waal University, Germany

Governments and other research-funders are increasingly describing formally what they expect, incentivise or even require Science Communication to achieve. Such policies and frameworks, as previously established in Australia, China, or South Africa, take the form of recommendations, regulations or even federal law.

The underlying policy rationale is often to ask to which extent research and innovation respond to societal needs and expectations. Research funding programmes such as “Horizon2020“ in the EU prioritise policies that require researchers to anticipate and address societal challenges through “Responsible Research and Innovation“ (RRI). How do funders expect research to be conducted, and what are the societal priorities? Policies set the tone for the researchers’ need to engage with various stakeholders in order for their projects to be funded. To this end, how are these societal and/or other priorities implemented? What are the different processes by which countries across the globe define how different stakeholders are to be engaged with science, and how is this reflected in the documents, policies, strategies? How do these processes differ internationally? Which impact have they showed?

Danielle M. Farrugia (Science Communicator, PhD student, University of Malta, co-supervised by Prof. Alexander Gerber, Rhine-Waal University) will present common patterns identified in policy documents across different countries (e.g. Australia, South Africa, United Kingdom). Interviews were furthermore conducted based on these common themes to better understand the process of creating these documents. In her PhD she investigates the above issues as part of the “SciComPass“ project. The aim is to compare the policies/strategies/frameworks about public engagement with science and how they require research institutions to respond to societal needs. This paper explores the role of stakeholder involvement in the process of creating these policy and strategy documents and potential risks these documents may entail for e.g. lowering the variety of science communication formats.

The author has not yet submitted a copy of the full paper.

Presentation type: Individual paper
Theme: Transformation

Success criteria of networks in science communication

Science communication policies for societal change

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