Discover the Science with Society “SCISO” project by ISC Member the Global Young Academy, which provides easily accessible content in the form of freely available video tutorials, that enable scientists to reflect about the role of science in society, and to communicate with broader audiences.
Scientists around the world are confronted with threats to public trust in science on issues ranging from public health measures to climate change, and unfortunately there is often a perceived gap between science and society.
Members of the Global Young Academy (GYA) believe that young scientists have a particular responsibility to contribute to closing this gap, and that these scientists have specific abilities and capacities that allow them to reach out to vital parts of society. However, as scientists dedicated to their fields, they often lack the tools, the conceptual framework, and the encouragement to consider such questions and engage in communication activities.
“[With the COVID-19 pandemic], almost overnight, science became the lifeline of a world in despair. It was no longer this ‘exclusive’ thing that was reserved for people in lab coats who use fancy instruments.”
“This is something you should keep in mind when communicating with your audience. How would you like to be treated in a situation where you are the lay person?”
“You are a member of society, so the future problem your research might cause would affect you too. So don’t be afraid of asking the hard questions about risks and values.”
The clips will also present “best practices” of select researchers regarding various forms of outreach and communication, for example in policy advice. The GYA wants to encourage young scientists to position themselves in public debates and enable them to make active contributions to the solutions of societal problems.
Source: https://council.science/current/blog/video-tutorials-on-science-ethics-and-science-communication/
