On Reddit there's a thread asking for the best advice from your profession. My advice as a communication professional, specialised in the field of science communication, would be: Remember that it's not about you, it's about them. Don’t focus solely on what you
Community
The Local Organising Committee of the Public Communication of Science and Technology conference, of which I was part, evaluated the conference yesterday. I reflect on my personal highlights of the conference.
Fundamentals
What I have come to think differently about, the website Beste ID asked me and 76 other thinkers. That is that good communication is above all about listening. And thus that some scientists are at least partly responsible for the growing gap between science and the practically educated in society.
Community
The Public Awareness of Research Infrastructures (PARI) three-day conference held in July 2022 at the SKA Observatory’s Global Headquarters (U.K.) discussed the science communication issues that practitioners face at research infrastructures, like community building, science diplomacy and equity, diversity and inclusion in STEM. We concluded that we need
Fundamentals
Members of the association SciComNL have expressed what they consider important for the National Centre for Science Communication that is to be established. Especially knowledge development and knowledge sharing are, in my opinion, essential functions of such a body.
Vision
It is to be hoped that the freshly appointed ministers and state secretaries in the Netherlands are less concerned with image than with the content of their work. But I hope that the media will also take responsibility in this process.
Fundamentals
Experts often employ their megaphone to disseminate information. A scientific study encourages them to engage in dialogue and not only teach their audience, but also learn from them. Experts should increase their perspectivist flexibility, engaging in the social conversation around science.
Tips
How do you stay up to date on the latest news and insights in the field of science communication? This list gives you a head-start.
Fundamentals
Giving people information is one of the most used strategies for communicating science. But what if you want the information to actually change behaviour, like stimulating people to adhere to corona measures? This essay discusses the limitations of only giving information on influencing behaviour.
The new academic textbook Science Communication - an introduction, is an excellent study guide for both students and professionals in the field of science communication. I'm particularly excited about its release, since it contains a chapter on Science Journalism that Mark Bos and I wrote.
What can you do tomorrow to bring future generations into contact with the science of today?
Every year in the United States, the popular ScienceOnline conference is held for anyone who communicates about science and uses new and social media to do so. I went there for the first time in February 2013 and was so enthusiastic that I took the initiative for a ScienceOnline Leiden community.
This essay discusses why good science journalism is important and why it means that journalists need to have more training in this specialty.
