Periodic Reporting for period 1 - NEWSERA (Citizen Science as the new paradigm for Science Communication)
Período documentado: 2020-01-01 hasta 2021-03-31
The overall aim of NEWSERA is to demonstrate the virtues of citizen science as an inclusive, broad and powerful science communication mechanism that can allow to increase trust in science communication and, in turn, in science at large, while opening up science and innovation to the whole society, raising awareness and educating in science, and reducing the chances of incurring in fake news by promoting critical thinking. Different tools and strategies used to address quadruple helix stakeholders in citizen science projects are being evaluated both in terms of effectiveness of the communication itself, and in terms of perception by the different stakeholder groups, with the objective of identifying motivations and barriers, and propose a new, more cost-effective strategies to increase trust. Our challenge is to integrate citizen science as a tool in science communication and define specific strategies addressed to quadruple helix stakeholders. To address NEWSERA goals, a world-class partnership has been assembled combining experts in citizen science and science communication, universities, associations of research centers, CSOs, SMEs and a public body and RFO from 3 countries (Portugal, Spain and Italy).
NEWSERA has conducted the Survey "A portrait of Science Communication Strategies by Citizen Science projects" to study science communication strategies commonly used among 157 active citizen science projects across the EU and the UK to provide a solid conceptual basis for the NEWSERA project that will be used for the pilots and impact evaluation. The analysis included Southern EU countries (Portugal, Spain and Italy), which will allow advancing beyond the current state-of-the-art.
Selection of 38 ongoing citizen science projects, from 3 different countries, to become NEWSERA pilots of study, collaborating within the citizen science projects.
Definition and analysis of indicators to evaluate CS projects science communication strategies, both in terms of effectiveness and stakeholders’ perceptions, using the Kampal methodological tool.
A total of 28 workshops were organized so far; 2 workshops, for each of the three countries involved and for each of the 4 #CitSciComm Labs (aimed at each specific quadruple helix stakeholder) plus one mutual learning event with the 3 countries after each #CitSciComm Lab. Moreover, Data Journalism Labs will soon start to take place.
#CitSciComm Labs have followed an inclusive approach (considering gender, age, socio-economic contexts, etc.) in all the co-designed tasks to guarantee overcoming participatory barriers in science communication, in particular due to the COVID-19 crisis.
NEWSERA is then pioneering a holistic approach of multi-level science communication, addressed to quadruplex 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.
Several #CitSciComm labs, organized by the consortium, have already been involving 4-helix stakeholders in approximately 40 currently active CS projects, previously mapped within EU-Citizen.Science platform, and which act upon environmental matters, addressing challenges in science communication strategies from the different projects by building capacity in local communities, increasing transparency, promoting dialogue and collaboration. The NEWSERA methodology is being validated through pilots tackling a variety of science communication issues in different contexts. These will ultimately contribute to establish a roadmap for efficient science communication by providing innovative communication blueprints and policy briefs to be widely and publicly disseminated.
NEWSERA will improve the public perception of science, increase the level of scientific literacy, increase trust and consequently decrease the extent of fake news.