Science Communication Research Articles

Divergence Profiles of Communication Processes between Latvia and Russia

The article, based on scientific literature and a large number of sources: sociological studies, various statistical and analytical materials, regulations, materials from mass media and social networks, provides an analysis of the deepening split in historically similar (according to G.Hofstede’s criteria) neighboring societies of Latvia and Russia. 12 groups of communications are considered that determine the content of the information space of Latvia in relation to Russia: foreign policy, economics, attitude towards Russia and Russians, education, science, culture, media, non-profit organizations, youth, religious and interreligious, freedom of movement, interregional communications. The results of the study show that Latvians and Russians are divided not so much by ethnic characteristics or the specifics of culture and traditions, but by their attitude to political history. At the same time, the negativization of the Russian state and Russians is undertaken mainly not by the population, but by the ruling political elite of Latvia, whose behavior is entirely determined by the interests of the countries of the Anglo-Saxon world. At the same time, the currently obvious divergence (divergence) in the development paths of historically similar societies that have been in the same civilizational space for centuries has led to differentiation in the manifestations of communication. Signs of an accelerating divergence in communication processes between Latvia and Russia are manifested in foreign policy communications, attitudes towards Russia and Russians, in culture, in the media and some other areas. Profiles of containing the divergence of communication processes – in religious and interreligious communications, youth, scientific communications, freedom of movement, etc. The results obtained allow us to hope with cautious optimism for the restoration of good-neighborly communication relations between Latvia and Russia in the foreseeable future.

Protists in science communication

Despite their high abundance and wide distribution in ecosystems, most protists remain unknown to the public. Although science communication approaches were developed in historical times to raise public awareness of these ‘enigmatic’ taxa, many aspects have not been considered in the spotlight of modern techniques. We present selected ideas and activities on how to attract the public to unicellular eukaryotes. We give examples of how protists can be included in educational work. We explain that trained non-experts can understand and teach others how to recognize protists, where they live, in which habitats they can be found, what they look like and why they are important. Consequently, members of the public can learn how environmental threats impact not only the lives of protists but also ours, e.g., by the accumulation of microplastics through an aquatic food web, up to fish used for human consumption. We suggest age-appropriate methods for application in workshops on protist recognition.

The balancing act: Leading creative teams for clear, accurate science communication

Leading a team is inherently complex, requiring managers to juggle diverse organisational goals, meet superiors’ expectations, and cater to individual team member needs. The challenge intensifies when leading creative teams in a scientific environment. Here, bridging the apparent work-culture gap between scientific and communications disciplines is key. Leaders must ensure scientific accuracy while crafting communication that resonates with the target audience. This article dives into the specific challenges faced by medical writers and other science communication teams: achieving clear, engaging communication without com promising scientific precision. It explores the complexities of leading such creative teams within a rigorous scientific environment. Effective leadership extends beyond mere results; it cultivates a team culture that both unleashes creative potential and prioritises meticulous fact-checking. The article presents strategies for fostering a high-performing team and addresses the perceived tension between scientific rigor and audience-friendly communication.

Letter/Correspondence/Comment at the heart of scientific communication

Letter/Correspondence/Comment at the heart of scientific communication

ACADEMIC SUCCESS IN UNIVERSITY FROMSTUDENT'S PERSPECTIVE

The process of ensuring the quality of education for the development of each country requires the modernization of specialist training in accordance with its priorities, labor market demands, educational needs and characteristics of students, where the most relevant and decisive is the focus on students, in particular on their academic success.The purpose of the study was to monitor and analyze students' educational activities to determine its impact on academic success.The scientific and practical significance of the study lies in the study and analysis of the academic success of students based on their experience in order to determine strategies for improving the activities of universities in order to improve the quality of the educational process.A quantitative method was utilized and the tool for collecting data was a questionnaire on the Qualtrix and the results were processed on the R-Studio. The empirical basis of the study was a stratified sample of 500 students from three Kazakhstani universities, which was divided into 4 groups (courses), and then respondents from each group were randomly selected for inclusion in the sample. The article presents the results of a study indicating the presence of functional differences in student experience. A review and comparative analysis revealed the following results and conclusions: the educational component of academic success varies depending on the type of educational activity; weak scientific communication involvement of students of all courses in many types of scientific activities; self-education experience is presented at a fairly average level; performing practical work for students of all courses is important, and the dominant motive is the cognitive motive, then professional, social and self-affirmation.The research results, conclusions and recommendations have practical significance, allowing teachers and university staff to use them in the educational process to improve student success.

Nutritional interventions and related efforts addressing undernutrition during rehabilitation after acquired brain injury: a scoping review protocol

IntroductionPatients with an acquired brain injury (ABI) are at an increased risk of undernutrition due to the disease-related inflammation and other numerous symptoms that impact their nutrition. Unfortunately, recommendations related...

Comparative Analysis of Scientific Communication Skills between Korean and Australian University Students

Comparative Analysis of Scientific Communication Skills between Korean and Australian University Students

The effect of inquiry teaching approach on scientific process skills of students with intellectual disabilities

In this study, the effect of the inquiry teaching approach on the scientific process skills of students with intellectual disabilities was examined. The study was completed in the 2019-2020 academic year. In this study, multiple case study design from qualitative research methods was used. The study group consisted of nine middle school students with intellectual disabilities attending a special education class. The study process consisted of pre-tests, implementation of activities, post-tests and generalization practices. In order to collect the data of the study, the scientific process skills inventory developed by Özkan (2015), observation and field notes, and the activity observation form developed by the researcher were used. Data analysis includes the process of analyzing and integrating the data obtained from the pre-test, post-test and observations made during the process of the scientific process skills of students affected by intellectual disability. The pre-test-post-test application of the scientific process skills inventory and all of the activities were videotaped and then observed. During the analysis process, performance differences exhibited by students before, during, and after the implementation of activities were evaluated based on transcriptions of video recordings, and necessary notes were taken. Initially, comparisons were made between students' performance behaviors in pre-test and post-test assessments. Subsequently, the development of students' scientific process skills during the implementation of activities was examined through observations, field notes, student work, and video recordings of the activities. Throughout this coding process, particular attention was given to students' performance behaviors in relevant sections of the activities.Video recordings were transcribed and necessary notes were taken. As a result of the research, it was found that the inquiry teaching approach was effective in the development of observation, estimation and scientific communication skills of students with intellectual disabilities except inference skills. In addition, it was observed that students with intellectual disabilities were able to generalize the science process skills they acquired to different subject areas. As a result, it was seen that the inquiry teaching approach was effective in developing the science process skills of students with intellectual disabilities.

Beyond the serotonin deficit hypothesis: communicating a neuroplasticity framework of major depressive disorder.

The serotonin deficit hypothesis explanation for major depressive disorder (MDD) has persisted among clinicians and the general public alike despite insufficient supporting evidence. To combat rising mental health crises and eroding public trust in science and medicine, researchers and clinicians must be able to communicate to patients and the public an updated framework of MDD: one that is (1) accessible to a general audience, (2) accurately integrates current evidence about the efficacy of conventional serotonergic antidepressants with broader and deeper understandings of pathophysiology and treatment, and (3) capable of accommodating new evidence. In this article, we summarize a framework for the pathophysiology and treatment of MDD that is informed by clinical and preclinical research in psychiatry and neuroscience. First, we discuss how MDD can be understood as inflexibility in cognitive and emotional brain circuits that involves a persistent negativity bias. Second, we discuss how effective treatments for MDD enhance mechanisms of neuroplasticity-including via serotonergic interventions-to restore synaptic, network, and behavioral function in ways that facilitate adaptive cognitive and emotional processing. These treatments include typical monoaminergic antidepressants, novel antidepressants like ketamine and psychedelics, and psychotherapy and neuromodulation techniques. At the end of the article, we discuss this framework from the perspective of effective science communication and provide useful language and metaphors for researchers, clinicians, and other professionals discussing MDD with a general or patient audience.

Persuasive Communication Strategy in Creative Work Digital Marketing Agency

The pandemic period in recent years has made it difficult for business people and MSMEs to market their products. This is one of the reasons for the establishment of the digital agency Karya Creative. This research also focuses on how Karya Creative's persuasive communication strategy to attract prospective clients to entrust their brand and what are the factors that influence the success of persuasive communication by Karya Creative in attracting clients. In this research, researchers took an approach used in qualitative descriptive. In using qualitative descriptive type, where researchers describe or construct in-depth interviews of research subjects. The results of this study show the process of persuasive communication strategies applied in Creative Works, the elements and components of persuasive communication used, and what factors influence the success of persuasive communication of Creative Works. Researchers hope that this research can make a scientific contribution to communication science and be useful for students who pursue communication research. The advice obtained from this study is that persuasive communication must be given continuously to convince clients because it is the basis of the strength of marketing agencies in promoting. Then it is also important in building client trust, of course, we need to uphold an honesty or a transparent communication.

Performance Evaluation and Influencing Factors of Scientific Communication in Research Institutions

Scientific communication holds a pivotal role within research institutions. This study establishes three distinct categories of indicators, tailored to the unique attributes of these institutions, aiming to assess their performance in scientific communication. Employing a rigorous two-stage data envelopment analysis (DEA) approach, we meticulously calculate output efficiency, feedback efficiency, and overall efficiency. Subsequently, we cluster the efficiency outcomes and delve into the factors that influence them. Drawing from the clustering insights and identified influencing factors, we formulate targeted scientific communication strategies tailored to the needs of these research institutions.

Mapping Science Communication in Higher Education in Portugal: A Systematic Evidence Analysis of PhD and Master’s Programs

Science communication training plays a crucial role in enabling scientists to effectively connect with the public, emphasizing essential skills such as building trust in scientific and technological advancements. Despite significant progress, some studies show a notable deficiency in higher education (HE) institutional structures and mechanisms dedicated to science communication training, addressing a diverse audience including researchers, teachers, and science monitors. This study delves into the key characteristics of current science communication postgraduate training programs within the HE landscape of Portugal. Our analysis is based on a comprehensive examination of the curricula of five science communication doctoral programs offered by four public universities in Portugal. The research involves a meticulous review of course documents and insights gathered from five directors through a detailed questionnaire. The primary objectives of this research are to discern the specific goals pursued by each course, uncover the content and development of competencies within their curricula, and explore the market opportunities envisioned by each offering. The results underscore that these programs equip students with the necessary competencies to effectively address challenges in science communication, notably enhancing public understanding of science. Significant findings suggest that Portugal’s current higher education scenario predominantly emphasizes cultivating postgraduate training activities in authentic settings, fostering collaborative partnerships with society. This article is a foundational resource for further exploration into the discipline-specific applications of science communication, aiming to elevate academic engagement with society.

When Science Meets Digital Branding

The science media ecosystem continues to dramatically change with the proliferation of digital media channels and platforms. While there are many different types of digital media filling this void, the use of online videos, particularly on YouTube, has become one of the main sources for information, specifically for science and environmental issues. While most researchers examine the content of online science news and information, we show that digital trace data, including hyperlinks, “likes”, and comments that are unique to participatory online media, can reveal interesting patterns about how and why people communicate and engage with content as well as other community members. Using climate change as a case study, we demonstrate how researchers can harness hyperlinks to understand who produces controversial science news and information online, and the motivations underlying how content creators use of hyperlinks for science communication and public engagement. While many existing studies in science communication have focused on understanding the political dimension of online science news and information, our paper reveals that digital branding is a crucial part of science communication on video-based platforms such as YouTube and TikTok. We find that amateur content creators and new media outlets use hyperlinks to promote their channel and other social media presences to raise revenue. While self-promotion through citing links to one’s other social media platforms is associated with more views, linking to revenue raising websites is not associated with more views. We discuss the implications of these contexts for the online science news and information ecosystem.

Misconceptions Still Drive Citizens’ Scepticism Towards Biotechnologically Produced Food

Given the invisible complexities of new food technologies, citizens oftentimes rely on the media and heuristics to form their judgments. Thus, citizens are at risk of believing in misconceptions that undermine technology acceptance and consequently hinder innovative solutions to global problems. The present study examined whether agreeing with widely spread misconceptions about biotechnologically produced food (BTF) predicts more negative attitudes among citizens. Three common misconceptions were identified: BTF is believed to be (a) unhealthy and unsafe, (b) unsustainable, and (c) unnatural - despite scientific consensus that BTF are not worse than conventional food. Descriptive statistics of a pre-registered, large-scale online-survey ( N = 2,925) conducted in November 2022 revealed that misconceptions are still widely spread. Multiple block-wise linear regression analysis showed that believing in misconceptions plays a dominant role in citizens’ attitudes about such innovative technologies and therefore contribute to public skepticism. Science communicators should develop diligent communication strategies to address these misconceptions, as reducing them would enable more people to participate in a well-prepared fashion in discourses about how BTF can be integrated in future governance frameworks that foster sustainable, socially fair food supply and consumption.

“We are not droids”– IPCC participants’ senses of responsibility and affective experiences across the production, assessment, communication and enactment of climate science

The growing understanding of how and why the climate is changing has led to mounting calls on climate scientists to take on more responsibility in the context of climate science. While an increasing responsibilisation takes place in the academic literature, asking scientists to “do more”, there is limited engagement with the responsibilities that scientists already assume in practice. Drawing on novel empirical insights from 77 semi-structured interviews with participants of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), I take the increasing ‘peer-to-peer responsibilisation’ as a point of departure to contextualise such calls, asking what scientists themselves already feel and assume responsibility for at both the personal and professional level. I find that climate experts participating in the IPCC not only assume increasing responsibility across different stages of the IPCC process but also beyond. As my data analysis demonstrates, IPCC participants increasingly feel and take on responsibility not only for producing and assessing climate science but also for communicating and/or enacting it (PACE). The contribution of the article is threefold. Firstly, it makes sense of the mounting peer-to-peer responsibilisation by surfacing and contextualising how, why and with what consequences particular climate knowledge holders already assume responsibility for climate science at four key moments (PACE). Secondly, conceiving of the IPCC as a community of practice, the article provides novel insights into the work of IPCC participants and their individual experiences with the institution and its processes. Thirdly, the article adds evidence to a growing body of literature on practices of responsibility and climate emotions by focussing on participants' individual affective experiences. As the 7th Assessment Cycle gathers pace, I propose some measures the IPCC may undertake to support participants in assuming their responsibilities in the context of climate science.

Can the 19th-century An Enemy of the People speak to today’s science communication challenges?

Can the 19th-century An Enemy of the People speak to today’s science communication challenges?

Thinking and doing beyond science and risk communication as mere transmission

I look back on my professional experience as both bench and social scientist, and examine my misunderstandings of science communication as a field, which were fueled by my ideologically-driven stance on the primacy of the bench sciences over all other fields of study. I begin with my work as a molecular biologist, continue with my socialization into the social sciences at the PhD level, and narrate my experiences as a researcher attempting to break down the notion of science and risk communication as mere vessels for sharing scientific information. I do this by discussing my research findings, and then ruminating on their meaning for the fields of science and risk communication. These fields must grow beyond their preoccupation with the centrality of scientific data in communication by 1) recognizing the ideological force exerted by such a stance, and 2) acknowledging the many voices of society that allow communication to be a complicated, and yet fruitful enterprise.

The DaNa projects: public communication of (nano)material safety data-from conspiracy theories to study quality.

In this perspective, the authors give their view on the developments and experiences on communicating on (nano)materials safety. We would like to share our experiences with the scientific community in order to make them useful for future communication activities. We present the long-term work of the science communication projects DaNa, DaNa2.0 and DaNa4.0, running from 2009 to 2023. Starting in the early 2000s with the beginnings of nanotechnology research, communication on the safety of nanomaterials with the public was still very new and faced the projects with many challenges. Today, science communication is indispensable for the dissemination of scientific findings and a fact-based approach like the DaNa "Knowledge Base Materials" creates a trustworthy dialogue with the public. This long-term project series has made a significant contribution to communication on the safety of nanomaterials, perhaps even the largest among publicly funded project series worldwide.

Book review essay: Digging deep into stories in science communication

Book review essay: Digging deep into stories in science communication

“Codex 4D” Project: Interdisciplinary Investigations on Materials and Colors of De Balneis Puteolanis (Angelica Library, Rome, Ms. 1474)

This paper sheds light on the manufacturing processes, techniques, and materials used in the splendid illuminations of the oldest surviving copy of De Balneis Puteolanis, preserved at the Angelica Library in Rome (Ms. 1474). The codex is one of the masterpieces of mid-13th-century Italian-Southern illumination, traditionally referred to as the commission of Manfredi, son of Frederick II. The findings reported in the article result from the interdisciplinary study conducted in 2021–2023 in the framework of “Codex 4D: journey in four dimensions into the manuscript”, a multidisciplinary project involving many competences and dealing with art-historical studies on manuscripts, diagnostic and conservative analyses, scientific dissemination, storytelling, and public engagement. The considerations we present aims at increasing the knowledge of book artefacts while respecting their extraordinary complexity; data from non-invasive diagnostic investigations (X-ray fluorescence, Vis-NIR reflectance and Raman spectroscopies, hyperspectral imaging, and multi-band imaging techniques as ultraviolet, reflectography, and thermography), carried out in situ with portable instruments on the book, have been integrated with observations resulting from the historical-artistic study, and the reading of some ancient treatises on the production and use of the pigments and dyes employed in illumination.