3 de October de 2024

SFC coordinates efforts to strengthen science communication in Europe through COALESCE project

Science For Change plays a key role as a hub in the European Competence Centre for Science Communication. In addition to co-coordinating the EU-funded COALESCE project, Science For Change (SFC) also serves as one of the three Spanish hubs in the European network of national and regional hubs within the new European Competence Centre for Science Communication.

Last week, the COALESCE project held its two-day annual consortium meeting, at SFC’s offices in Barcelona. On the third day, it was dedicated the first face-to-face day of the network of 18 “National and Regional Hubs” (N&R Hubs) of COALESCE, together with the project partners and other organitzations in Europe.

At this meeting, the N&R Hubs explored their role within the Competence Centre, which is being developed as the main objective of COALESCE. One of the first tasks of the day involved thinking about how science communication can be improved at times of crisis, whether it’s a pandemic, a flood, an earthquake or any other event where science needs to be communicated effectively, taking into account local contexts.

To do this, we used one of the first resources published by the Competence Centre: the Crisis Navigator for Rapid Mobilisation of Science Communication in times of crisis. This resource helped to identify what needs to be improved before, during and after a crisis to ensure effective science communication, including key agents to be mobilized.

It has been fantastic to have the opportunity to come together face to face with the other 17 N&R Hubs and start testing some of the resources that will be available in the Competence Centre. In this occasion, a gamification exercise based on the Crisis Navigator set the basis to discuss multiple science communication challenges in times of crisis. In our specific case, representing Spain, we applied it to the case of droughts and wildfires that affect the territory. As the Portuguese Hub (SciComPT) also focused on the same problem, we had the additional opportunity to discuss and compare different framings used by the media in Galicia and Portugal.

Joana Magalhães

COALESCE Coordination Team

In the next period, the Competence Centre will develop tools, resources and training to improve science communication, fostering a closer connection between science and society. Key challenges include combating misinformation, polarised opinions online and the disconnect between science and people’s everyday lives.

Science For Change is one of the N&R Hubs in Spain, together with the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (FECYT) and the University of Valencia, where our task will be to support science communication communities to achieve these goals at local and regional level.

For more information about the COALESCE project, please visit the official website here.

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