Periodic Reporting for period 2 - NEWSERA (Citizen Science as the new paradigm for Science Communication)
Berichtszeitraum: 2021-04-01 bis 2023-03-31
The way science and society interact is constantly evolving and new opportunities for dialogue and collaboration continuously emerge. At the same time, science-informed decisions are gaining momentum in advanced democracies. In this scenario, citizen science initiatives (CSIs) can become a key enabler. Following bottom-up methodologies, citizens can contribute as data generators to co-researchers as well as science communicators, becoming the primary source for science-related news. CS is thus changing the paradigm of science communication. However, the potential to integrate CS as a tool in science communication still needs to be unleashed, so that CS can reach its full potential as a participatory and democratic science communication model, aligning science and society needs, goals and expectations, promoting mutual understanding and trust.
The overall aim of NEWSERA was to demonstrate the virtues of CS as an inclusive, broad and powerful science communication mechanism that increases trust in science communication and, in turn, in science at large, while opening up science and innovation to society, raising awareness and educating in science, and reducing the chances of incurring in fake news, by promoting critical thinking.
NEWSERA analyzed and evaluated the effectiveness and perception of complex and multidirectional science communication strategies, including digital and non-digital ones, addressed to and co-designed with quadruple helix stakeholders (citizen scientists, academic scientists, policy makers and public sector, industry and SMEs) and science and data journalists, in 39 CSIs, the NEWSERA pilots, tested under the citizen science communication labs, #CitSciComm Labs.
Different strategies, including tools, channels, formats, used to address 4-helix stakeholders and science journalists, were validated and compiled on the NEWSERA Blueprints, as well as motivations, barriers and mitigation strategies, and finally, recommendations to efficiently engage with quadruple helix stakeholders and science and data journalists for wider impact and ensure replicability of the NEWSERA findings.
The NEWSERA Project, through its co-design methodology applied within the #CitSciComm Labs demonstrated the potential of CS as the new paradigm of science communication, building newsable stories with societal relevance through data journalism, and contributing to tackle misinformation.
The overall aim of NEWSERA was to demonstrate the virtues of CS as an inclusive, broad and powerful science communication mechanism that increases trust in science communication and, in turn, in science at large, while opening up science and innovation to society, raising awareness and educating in science, and reducing the chances of incurring in fake news, by promoting critical thinking.
NEWSERA analyzed and evaluated the effectiveness and perception of complex and multidirectional science communication strategies, including digital and non-digital ones, addressed to and co-designed with quadruple helix stakeholders (citizen scientists, academic scientists, policy makers and public sector, industry and SMEs) and science and data journalists, in 39 CSIs, the NEWSERA pilots, tested under the citizen science communication labs, #CitSciComm Labs.
Different strategies, including tools, channels, formats, used to address 4-helix stakeholders and science journalists, were validated and compiled on the NEWSERA Blueprints, as well as motivations, barriers and mitigation strategies, and finally, recommendations to efficiently engage with quadruple helix stakeholders and science and data journalists for wider impact and ensure replicability of the NEWSERA findings.
The NEWSERA Project, through its co-design methodology applied within the #CitSciComm Labs demonstrated the potential of CS as the new paradigm of science communication, building newsable stories with societal relevance through data journalism, and contributing to tackle misinformation.
NEWSERA in a nutshell: NEWSERA organized 5 CitSciComm Labs, addressed to each of the 4-helix stakeholders and science and data journalists, 44 workshops, including mutual learning exercises called the NEWSERA Fridays, enrolling 39 CSIs from Portugal, Italy and Spain, and involving more than 140 experts and science communication professionals. The NEWSERA members and invited guests delivered 50 training sessions, capacity building and participatory events and 244 hours of mentoring.
NEWSERA main findings:
CS always requires generalist means of communication, regardless of the preferred interest groups or at any given time.
The fact that CS is inherently participatory does not guarantee satisfactory results, any more than they are guaranteed in academic science. Effective communication favours - as science, in general - the feedback necessary for knowledge consolidation and the communities that generate it.
Identifying challenges, mutual benefits and resources needed from the beginning allows better planning and implementation of effective communication strategies and monitoring of impact indicators.
Establishing relations and multilateral communication, be they of influence, cooperation or demand, such as those with and for the public sector and policymakers, or industry and SMEs, is complex and requires specific training, capacity building and mentoring.
NEWSERA main outputs (accessible via the project website newsera2020.eu and NEWSERA Zenodo community):
NEWSERA Blueprints to support those who want to improve and/or rethink their communication strategies in order to increase specific target audiences, such as those from the quadruple helix model and the media
Guide of Science Communication for CSIs, including checklists for ethically sound and trustworthy science communication to tackle misinformation and how to establish long term relationships with the media
NEWSERA Policy Briefs, assessing the main findings and impacts from NEWSERA as well as policy recommendations for citizen science communication addressing quadruple stakeholders, more specifically the public sector and policymakers
NEWSERA Impact Framework, with the possibility of creating an ad hoc set of indicators for communication, stakeholder engagement and impact
Analysis of NEWSERA's and CSIs communication strategies through the Kampal Social tool for the digital sphere
NEWSERA co-design methodology of targeted science communication strategies
NEWSERA formal and informal training towards both academic and citizen scientists in order to provide competences and soft skills on science communication
Data4CitSciNews conference and exhibition as a flagship for citizen science journalism
NEWSERA full methodology animated videos, Data4CitSciNews, project and final conference videos
NEWSERA main findings:
CS always requires generalist means of communication, regardless of the preferred interest groups or at any given time.
The fact that CS is inherently participatory does not guarantee satisfactory results, any more than they are guaranteed in academic science. Effective communication favours - as science, in general - the feedback necessary for knowledge consolidation and the communities that generate it.
Identifying challenges, mutual benefits and resources needed from the beginning allows better planning and implementation of effective communication strategies and monitoring of impact indicators.
Establishing relations and multilateral communication, be they of influence, cooperation or demand, such as those with and for the public sector and policymakers, or industry and SMEs, is complex and requires specific training, capacity building and mentoring.
NEWSERA main outputs (accessible via the project website newsera2020.eu and NEWSERA Zenodo community):
NEWSERA Blueprints to support those who want to improve and/or rethink their communication strategies in order to increase specific target audiences, such as those from the quadruple helix model and the media
Guide of Science Communication for CSIs, including checklists for ethically sound and trustworthy science communication to tackle misinformation and how to establish long term relationships with the media
NEWSERA Policy Briefs, assessing the main findings and impacts from NEWSERA as well as policy recommendations for citizen science communication addressing quadruple stakeholders, more specifically the public sector and policymakers
NEWSERA Impact Framework, with the possibility of creating an ad hoc set of indicators for communication, stakeholder engagement and impact
Analysis of NEWSERA's and CSIs communication strategies through the Kampal Social tool for the digital sphere
NEWSERA co-design methodology of targeted science communication strategies
NEWSERA formal and informal training towards both academic and citizen scientists in order to provide competences and soft skills on science communication
Data4CitSciNews conference and exhibition as a flagship for citizen science journalism
NEWSERA full methodology animated videos, Data4CitSciNews, project and final conference videos
NEWSERA is a highly ambitious project aimed at leveraging CSIs to their full potential by fostering an improved and effective participation in science communication. It contributed to positioning CS as the new paradigm for science communication, by testing a new concept #CitSciComm, understood as a broader, more inclusive and evolving way of science communication, in which 4-helix stakeholders play a key role. At the same time, NEWSERA showed to be in an unique position to introduce and explore the concept of #CitSciJournalism, fostering participatory and transparent ecosystems to encourage change for the benefit of communities. NEWSERA pioneered a holistic approach of multi-level science communication, addressed to 4-helix stakeholders, while testing and validating CS as an innovative tool, through a continuous and iterative analysis and evaluation in terms of effectiveness of the communication and overall perception.
The project led to 10 scientific contributions as peer-reviewed articles, proceedings and book chapters, whilst others are still under review or preparation for publication.
NEWSERA LEGACY: towards a better communication and alliances among European Projects
During the last years, the eight SwafS-19 funded sister projects (TRESCA, GlobalScape, PARCOS, QUEST, CONCISE, ReThink, NEWSERA and ENJOI) meet on a regular basis for mutual learning. From this exchange, “Coordinated Opportunities for Advanced Leadership and Engagement in Science Communication in Europe” (COALESCE) project was born. From April 2023, COALESCE will establish the European Competence Centre for Science Communication to support, give recognition and mainstream science communication in the ERA and beyond. COALESCE will develop, consolidate, and rapidly mobilise excellent scientific knowledge and recommendations to act in times of crisis and counteract misinformation. It will bring together the SwafS-19 communities of practice and the multiple stakeholders involved, and further enlarge its scope of action together with other networks. The Centre will operate under a virtual platform connected with local, regional and national hubs in order to adapt resources to local contexts, promoting a sustainable and long term approach.
The project led to 10 scientific contributions as peer-reviewed articles, proceedings and book chapters, whilst others are still under review or preparation for publication.
NEWSERA LEGACY: towards a better communication and alliances among European Projects
During the last years, the eight SwafS-19 funded sister projects (TRESCA, GlobalScape, PARCOS, QUEST, CONCISE, ReThink, NEWSERA and ENJOI) meet on a regular basis for mutual learning. From this exchange, “Coordinated Opportunities for Advanced Leadership and Engagement in Science Communication in Europe” (COALESCE) project was born. From April 2023, COALESCE will establish the European Competence Centre for Science Communication to support, give recognition and mainstream science communication in the ERA and beyond. COALESCE will develop, consolidate, and rapidly mobilise excellent scientific knowledge and recommendations to act in times of crisis and counteract misinformation. It will bring together the SwafS-19 communities of practice and the multiple stakeholders involved, and further enlarge its scope of action together with other networks. The Centre will operate under a virtual platform connected with local, regional and national hubs in order to adapt resources to local contexts, promoting a sustainable and long term approach.