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This article discusses caste discrimination in Indian universities, specifically focusing on the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs). The podcasts explore the underrepresentation of marginalized castes in PhD admissions at these institutions and the institutionalized discrimination that marginalized students face. The article highlights how caste inequalities are perpetuated through concepts like meritocracy and cultural capital. It emphasizes the need to address caste inequalities in management education and suggests incorporating caste into management courses. The podcasts provide firsthand evidence of caste inequalities and can be used as a resource for initiating discussions on caste in the classroom. [Extracted from the article]

In an earlier essay, I advocated that translational bioethics uses the public's values, determined through social science, in its analysis of translational science technologies. It may be unclear what those values might be, and whether such a translational ethics would necessarily conclude that cutting edge technologies should not be developed. In this essay, I show the public's values relevant to human brain organoids and argue that a translational bioethics analysis using these values would support continued organoid research.

Harriet Martineau's early sociological publication, How to observe Morals and Manners (1838a) has received attention as one of the works that provided a more diverse foundation for the social sciences. This article examines the content of this pre-disciplinary text and explores the value of a simple and valuable concept Martineau offers: the Traveller. It is argued that theorisation of this concept contributes to a more diverse foundation for the history of the social sciences by (1) highlighting the subject of the researcher, (2) rediscovering a set of requisites for research inspired by skilled scepticism and (3) opening up more communicative knowledge production, that is, knowledge that is in line with 21st century dialogical sociology and public understanding of science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

News reporting of preprints became commonplace during the COVID-19 pandemic, yet the extent to which the public understands what preprints are is unclear. We sought to fill this gap by conducting a content analysis of 1702 definitions of the term "preprint" that were generated by the US general population and college students. We found that only about one in five people were able to define preprints in ways that align with scholarly conceptualizations of the term, although participants provided a wide array of "other" definitions of preprints that suggest at least a partial understanding of the term. Providing participants with a definition of preprints in a news article helped improve preprint understanding for the student sample, but not for the general population. Our findings shed light on misperceptions that the public has about preprints, underscoring the importance of better education about the nature of preprint research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social media sites like X (formerly Twitter) increasingly serve as spaces for the public to discuss controversial topics. Social media can spark extreme viewpoints and spread biased or inaccurate information while simultaneously allowing for debate around policy-relevant topics. The arrest of Joseph J. DeAngelo in April 2018 ignited a barrage of social media conversations on how DNA and genetic genealogy led to the suspect. These conversations continued over the following years as policies changed and as the use of the approach expanded. We examined social media coverage of investigative genetic genealogy (IGG) to characterize the volume and temporal patterns in the topics and sentiments of these public conversations. First, using a data analytics tool Brandwatch Consumer Research, we built flexible search strings to collect tweets from the social media platform Twitter/X for IGG-relevant content published from 2018 to 2022, resulting in 24,209 tweets. Second, we applied informatics tools to the dataset to generate topic clusters and analyze trends in cluster volume and distribution over time to define the top 25 peaks in tweet volume, representing the 25 events that generated the highest volume of conversation over the 5-year period. Third, drawing on the contextual framework of key IGG events, we selected three of the top ten events to code for sentiment along with a randomly sampled subset of tweets across the timeframe. Qualitative coding for position on IGG revealed a majority of tweets were supportive of the use of IGG, but key concerns were also voiced about the ethics of IGG. Over a third of conversations on Twitter/X were on either cases solved or suggestions for use of IGG. We archived the social media data for future research. These data highlight key areas of public support and concern within IGG processes and across application contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forensic science is the application of scientific disciplines that are directed to the recognition, identification, individualization, and evaluation of physical evidence by applying the principles, technology, and methods of natural sciences for the administration of criminal justice or to serve the law. Improved forensic investigation techniques rely heavily on raising public awareness of forensic science. This study aims to analyze the level of awareness among the community's various age groups by examining their knowledge and perception of forensic science. A survey-based study was conducted over 400 adults of different age groups ranging from 18 to 45 years or above, different professions, and genders. The survey questionnaire was made up in digital format using Google form tool, the questionnaire was designed into two sets of easy and moderate questions to ensure that participants of all age groups could effectively engage and contribute their insights. The study concluded that 92% of participants knew forensic science. The study, comprised of individuals aged 18 years or above, observed that those aged 18 to 30 responded more enthusiastically and efficiently to the survey than those aged 30 and above. Younger participants had more participation and efficiency in their responses. Additionally, sex had no impact on public awareness. However, substantial differences have been observed among age and profession. According to the survey, younger and employed people are more aware of forensic science. Nevertheless, it is too soon to make accurate predictions about awareness, knowledge, and engagement rates, as thorough nationwide surveys have yet to be undertaken. The preliminary research gives initial insights, but substantial data gathering is required to draw more definitive conclusions about public awareness and engagement levels. Launching awareness campaigns about the relevance of forensic Science is critical for creating a more informed community, lowering fears, and addressing knowledge gaps, ultimately helping the discipline and encouraging future participation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This perspective article explores the intersection of science education advancements and public science understanding improvement efforts, critiquing the still prevalent "deficit model" of science communication. It argues for a nuanced approach, incorporating insights from conceptual change research and the coexistence of scientific and misconceived notions within learners. Highlighting the prospects and promises of representational pluralism, it suggests strategies for science communicators to foster public engagement, emphasizing the importance of young audiences, avoiding simplistic dichotomies, and promoting critical thinking. The piece advocates for mutual enrichment between science education and communication, aiming for a well-informed, epistemologically competent public capable of navigating the complexities of scientific discourse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The public's growing interest in epigenetics, particularly its applications in human health, underscores the significance of epigenetic mechanisms in regulating gene activity and promoting phenotypic diversity without altering DNA sequences. Within the framework of the Extended Evolutionary Synthesis, epigenetics is regarded as a non-genetic contributor to evolution. The EPIBOOST project, "BOOSting excellence in environmental EPIgenetics," investigates epigenetic changes induced by contaminants in aquatic organisms and aims to enhance public understanding of epigenetics through science outreach videos. A multidisciplinary team comprising Biology, Education, and Design researchers produced the video "What is Epigenetics?" using a design-based research methodology and a design thinking approach. This process involved storyboard design, audio recording, image production, video editing, testing, refinement, and public dissemination. The interactive development of the storyboard and script aimed to efficiently communicate the significance of epigenetics, fostering public understanding of this emerging research area through an effective science communication strategy. This paper focuses on the development process for the first video, which aims to promote public awareness of epigenetics using the AEIOU framework (Awareness, Enjoyment, Interest, Opinions, and Understanding) to elucidate epigenetic concepts such as DNA methylation, gene expression, and phenotype, and their integration in environmental assessment frameworks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Acta Comportamentalia is the property of Instituto de Psicologia y Educacion de la Universidad Veracruzana and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The editorial reflects on the journey of Science & Education from the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic to achieving Quartile 1 ranking in 2023. The journal focused on promoting the relevance of History, Philosophy, and Sociology of Science (HPS) in science education, encouraging authors to situate their research within HPS literature. Emphasizing diversity and inclusion, the journal published articles from authors worldwide, addressing pressing topics like sustainability, climate change, and misinformation. The editorial underscores the importance of understanding the nature of science in societal contexts, highlighting the role of science communicators and the impact of news media representations on human behavior. [Extracted from the article]

This article demonstrates-based on an interpretive discourse analysis of three types of memes (Rabid Feminists, Women's Bodies, Policy Ideas) and secondary thread discourse on 4chan's "Politically Incorrect" discussion board-two key findings: (1) the existence of a gendered hate based scientific discourse, "science fan fiction," in online spaces and (2) how gender "science fan fiction" is an outcome of the male supremacist cosmology, by producing and justifying resentment against white women as being both inherently untrustworthy (politically, sexually, intellectually) and dangerous. This perspective-which combines hatred and distrust of women with white nationalist anxieties about demographic shifts, racial integrity, and sexuality-then motivates misogynist policy ideas including total domination of women or their removal. 4chan users employ this discourse to "scientifically" substantiate claims of white male supremacy, the fundamental untrustworthiness of white women, and to argue white women's inherent threat to white male supremacist goals.

"Those who can't do, teach." This adage is common, perhaps because the general public does not fully understand what teachers do. Here, we describe our findings from a collaborative project, GIFT (Graduate Identity Formation through Teaching), in which STEM graduate students (GSs) taught science content to teacher candidates (TCs) and received a semester-long introduction to lesson planning and general instructional theories. GIFT was not originally intended to impact public perceptions of science teaching and science education nor was its purpose to cultivate future educators amongst the STEM GSs. Despite this, the data indicate that STEM GSs were impacted by this partnership and indeed thought about K-12 teaching more deeply after participating in GIFT. The results of this study indicate that purposeful interventions involving GSs (and perhaps undergraduate students) engaging in teaching may prove to be an impactful experience for those students and vital to the public support of science education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article emphasizes the significance of interdisciplinary collaboration in environmental history research. The author, an environmental historian, highlights the value of combining expertise from various disciplines to address complex environmental challenges. They stress the importance of engaging with stakeholders and making research applicable to real-world issues. The article also explores public participation, engagement, and mobilization in environmental governance, emphasizing the need to clarify motivations and goals. It underscores the societal benefits of interdisciplinary work and the potential impact of environmental history beyond academia. The article encourages researchers and practitioners to consider diverse perspectives and tailor projects to meet the specific needs of different communities. [Extracted from the article]

This theoretical paper focuses on the social processes of public engagement with science and their implications for science education. The core of our argument is that science education should help people become better at evaluating, using, and curating their epistemic networks to make personal and civic decisions and to understand the natural world. In this context, an epistemic network is a set of people who support sensemaking by providing new information and aiding in the interpretation and reconstruction of scientific knowledge in context. We believe epistemic networks are an important consideration for science education, particularly when misinformation plays an outsized role in the cultural landscape. Understanding when epistemic networks are useful and how science education should incorporate them requires a clear sense of how they work in different contexts. We start by contrasting the inevitably social nature of all public engagement with science with the particularly social or interpersonal nature of some public engagement with science. We draw on research from education, communication, and science and technology studies to develop the idea of an epistemic network and to describe two basic types: the individual resource network and the collective action network. We illustrate each type with an extended example that is hypothetical but informed by both research and experience. Finally, we discuss how science education can incorporate epistemic networks, as well as the challenges inherent in that educational strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lay beliefs about human trait heritability are consequential for cooperation and social cohesion, yet there has been no global characterisation of these beliefs. Participants from 30 countries (N = 6128) reported heritability beliefs for intelligence, personality, body weight and criminality, and transnational factors that could influence these beliefs were explored using public nation-level data. Globally, mean lay beliefs differ from published heritability (h 2) estimated by twin studies, with a worldwide majority overestimating the heritability of personality and intelligence, and underestimating body weight and criminality. Criminality was seen as substantially less attributable to genes than other traits. People from countries with high infant mortality tended to ascribe greater heritability for most traits, relative to people from low infant mortality countries. This study provides the first systematic foray into worldwide lay heritability beliefs. Future research must incorporate diverse global perspectives to further contextualise and extend upon these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractMental health professionals working with the dying and bereaved may occasionally feel that a belief in the mind’s persistence after death can function as an important coping device for some of their patients. To facilitate an unbiased reading of the empirical articles in this thematic issue, this essay therefore uses the history of a particularly contested area of ‘survival research’, spirit mediumship, to highlight widely forgotten but pivotal historical contexts and complexities which have failed to inform and balance standard academic receptions of empirical approaches to the mind’s hypothetic survival of death. After sketching diametrically opposed attitudes to mediumship by the founders of modern psychology, William James and Wilhelm Wundt, and psychiatrist Eugen Bleuler’s defences of research with mediums against the dismissive stance exemplified by Emil Kraepelin and Henry Maudsley, I conclude that standard interpretations of any open-minded scientific interest in mediumship and survival research as wishful thinking are asymmetrical and psychologically simplistic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, scientific authorities were routinely consulted by mainstream media outlets through interviews, statements and/or supporting images. In this framework, our goal in this study was to analyze the media representation of scientists in Brazil during the first year of this global public health crisis. To this end, we applied a research protocol and, using statistical techniques, quantitatively analyzed newscasts on the country’s main TV news program, Jornal Nacional. On this program, scientists were interviewed about “vaccination,” a topic of broad interest given that the vaccine had been described from the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic as a response to cope with the public health crisis. We discuss information about gender, age, and race, the speaking time and screen time of these social actors, the format in which scientists are inserted into news reports, and the presence/absence of science icons. The data reveal that the predominant image of the scientist transmitted to the audience – a mature white man – reinforces stereotypes that persist in the media and in the public understanding of science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article explores the relationship between open science and science communication, highlighting the need to bridge the gap between the two for the benefit of both science and society. It proposes a framework that combines the values and practices of both communities, emphasizing transparency and the use of bridging tools to address the complexity of scientific language. The text acknowledges the controversies surrounding open scientific materials during the COVID-19 pandemic but argues that specific cases should not overshadow the overall effectiveness of open science. It emphasizes the importance of informed trust and the common good in promoting a stronger connection between scientific expertise and public understanding. The article provides valuable references and citations from various sources on the topics of science communication and open access publishing, making it a valuable resource for library patrons conducting research in these areas. [Extracted from the article]

Diverse actors within and outside the academic system increasingly call upon scientists to engage with the public through science communication as part of their academic work. This raises the question of how these actors' demands can and should be met in practice. At the conference on "Perspectives on science communication", which took place on 27 May 2024, at the Museum für Naturkunde in Berlin, interested scientists and communicators from the Leibniz Association came together to reflect on the strategic development of the field of science communication. The focus was on the exchange of realistic goals, important actions and the actors responsible for the further development of the field and practice of science communication. These three topics were discussed in the context of a keynote speech and a panel discussion, as well as with regard to specific forms of interaction between science and society, including informative, dialogic and participatory formats of science communication. The discussions reveal a diversity of goals scientists can aim for, but also a multitude of action areas that need to be addressed by a number of actors to achieve these goals. Goals particularly hinted at an increasing, yet-to-be-defined quantity of communication, including contents related to informing about facts in societal debates, engaging in democratic dialogue and encouraging participation of citizens in research to increase innovation in science, but also process-related goals such as building partnerships, communicating transparently or providing support for scientists. Action areas to achieve these goals are diverse and regard strengthening recognition and reputation, supporting and protecting scientists, providing temporal and financial resources for science communication and changing researcher's attitudes. In terms of actors, conference participants hinted at the diverse roles of different actors, focusing the discussion on actors in academia, politics and administration, civil society as well as boundary organisations such as the media as key actors to further advance the topic of science communication. This conference report elaborates the results related to these three topics and, thus, creates the basis for an in-depth discussion of the results in Germany and internationally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Journalists who cover science must decide whether and how to include the limitations of studies and the inherent uncertainties of the scientific process in their articles. Scientific uncertainty is a fundamental issue in science journalism. How it is presented can influence public understanding of science and directly affect citizens’ decisions on public health issues, environmental concerns, and more. This paper aims to review the literature in the field and (1) explore the characteristics of scientific uncertainty and existing types of classifications; (2) present the current state of research in the field; and (3) identify themes and subjects that are not sufficiently studied. The paper was based on scientific articles extracted using Google Scholar. The study shows that research on scientific uncertainty began to gain momentum around 2005, with the number of articles in the field increasing even more after 2012 when the topic also began to be discussed in the context of misinformation. Understanding how journalists relay scientific uncertainty can help fight false ideas that appear in the public space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the impact of William Taylor on cross-border river sharing challenges and sustainable fisheries. It highlights collaborations between Michigan State University and various European universities to address environmental policy gaps. The text delves into specific case studies, such as the Rogun Dam in Tajikistan and the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, to illustrate the complexities of water resource management and the need for equitable solutions in politically divided regions like Central Eurasia. The article emphasizes the importance of interdisciplinary research and international cooperation in addressing environmental sustainability issues. [Extracted from the article]

The article "Energy Transitions: Insights from the Past, Solutions for the Future" discusses the importance of understanding historical energy transitions to effectively plan for future technological changes. It highlights the role of engineers in integrating new and renewable technologies to combat climate change. The article emphasizes the need for a multidisciplinary approach to address the socio-economic-cultural aspects of energy transitions. Historical case studies on personal transportation and housing illustrate the complex relationship between technological advancements and societal changes. The article concludes by advocating for collaborative efforts among researchers, engineers, and policymakers to facilitate a sustainable energy transition. [Extracted from the article]

The relevance of policymaking stems from its utility in helping social systems manage the output of their constituent members by shaping behavioural and procedural processes. Whilst policymaking might be well-meaning, it does not always lead to satisfactory outcomes. Policy may fail in generating uptake or establishing intent. For this reason, the study of the psychological characteristics of citizens is pertinent in understanding reactions to policy. In the present study, we analysed policy communication and reception in Kuwait in terms of the worldviews they advance. We also studied media responses and worldview distributions amongst the public (n = 1400). Our findings demonstrate both within and between worldview differences in reactions to science policy. We observed an engagement effect between worldviews and their appreciation of science policy. We also observed a within worldviews mobilisation effect, by which differential reactions to science policy are activated once engaged. Our conclusions suggest that policymakers would benefit from a broader management of worldviews and psychological characteristics beyond traditional sociodemographic influences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The public acceptance of evolution remains a contentious issue in the United States. Numerous investigations have used national cross-sectional studies to examine the factors associated with the acceptance or rejection of evolution. This analysis uses a 33-year longitudinal study that followed the same 5000 public-school students from grade 7 through midlife (ages 45–48) and is the first to do so in regard to evolution. A set of structural equation models demonstrate the complexity and changing nature of influences over these three decades. Parents and local influences are strong during the high school years. The combination of post-secondary education and occupational and family choices demonstrate that the 15 years after high school are the switchyards of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the mathematical communities that Jim Simons supported throughout his life. Simons was a renowned mathematician, a successful investor, and a generous philanthropist. He founded the Simons Foundation in 1994, which supports research in mathematics and the basic sciences. Simons also contributed to various organizations and initiatives, such as the Institute for Advanced Study, the Math for America program, the Simons Center for Geometry and Physics, and the National Museum of Mathematics. His philanthropic efforts aimed to foster collaboration and advance knowledge in mathematics and science. [Extracted from the article]

An introduction is presented in which the author discusses articles within the issue on topics including the intersection of citizen science and science communication, stakeholder-centric approaches and communication strategies used across citizen science projects, and innovation, resilience and expansion in citizen science approaches.

Citizen science has proven to be a useful paradigm both to contribute to science and to increase the public understanding of science. Thus the connection between citizen science and schools offers an interesting approach to explore. However, a lot of questions and challenges remain unclear, such as the balance between scientific and educational goals. In this research, we explore how citizen science initiatives have been implemented in formal education contexts through a systematic literature review. The final aim is to identify relevant characteristics, define profiles of initiatives and offer future implications. Through the PRISMA Protocol, we have selected 46 published citizen science initiatives to analyse. Our findings show four different profiles of citizen science initiatives in schools: Students using science, Students helping science, Students learning science collecting data and Students learning science by acting as scientists. From the discussion of these profiles, we suggest some considerations for researchers and designers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a rapidly changing information landscape, science communicators need to find new ways to engage audiences, make their information memorable and increase attitudes towards scientists. Evidence suggests that stories could be an effective tool for these goals, but few studies tested experimentally whether they are advantageous to non-stories in the context of science communication. The current study aimed to fill that gap. Participants fluent in German (n = 151) were randomly assigned to either read a scientific text written as a story or written in classic abstract format. It was hypothesized that participants reading the story would score higher on reading enjoyment, attention focus, emotional engagement, topic interest, perceived authenticity of the author, identification and information recall than participants reading the non-story. Results showed that participants who read a story felt a higher sense of connection towards the author, a subconstruct of authenticity, while other variables remained insignificant. Reasons why this study could only find limited proof for the effectiveness of stories in science communication and methodological implications for future research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social media sites like X (formerly Twitter) increasingly serve as spaces for the public to discuss controversial topics. Social media can spark extreme viewpoints and spread biased or inaccurate information while simultaneously allowing for debate around policy-relevant topics. The arrest of Joseph J. DeAngelo in April 2018 ignited a barrage of social media conversations on how DNA and genetic genealogy led to the suspect. These conversations continued over the following years as policies changed and as the use of the approach expanded. We examined social media coverage of investigative genetic genealogy (IGG) to characterize the volume and temporal patterns in the topics and sentiments of these public conversations. First, using a data analytics tool Brandwatch Consumer Research, we built flexible search strings to collect tweets from the social media platform Twitter/X for IGG-relevant content published from 2018 to 2022, resulting in 24,209 tweets. Second, we applied informatics tools to the dataset to generate topic clusters and analyze trends in cluster volume and distribution over time to define the top 25 peaks in tweet volume, representing the 25 events that generated the highest volume of conversation over the 5-year period. Third, drawing on the contextual framework of key IGG events, we selected three of the top ten events to code for sentiment along with a randomly sampled subset of tweets across the timeframe. Qualitative coding for position on IGG revealed a majority of tweets were supportive of the use of IGG, but key concerns were also voiced about the ethics of IGG. Over a third of conversations on Twitter/X were on either cases solved or suggestions for use of IGG. We archived the social media data for future research. These data highlight key areas of public support and concern within IGG processes and across application contexts.

Scientific culture, given its epistemological nature, is a strategic topic in educational dynamics. However, there are no bibliometric studies that refer to it. The objective of the study was to characterize and analyze the bibliometric trends of scientific articles that address the relationship between scientific culture and education. The Web of Science database search with the descriptors "scientific culture" and "education" yielded a total of 100 articles (n=100), after screening and study of suitability of the documents, 87 articles were considered (n = 87). For visualization and analysis, descriptive statistics were used, supported by Excel 365, Biblioshine by Bibliométrix, and VOSviewer. The variables addressed were: annual production, WOS categories, journals and impact, authors, countries and keywords. The findings show that between 2017 and 2020 there has been the highest production of articles. The WOS category that most addresses the issue is Education Educational Research (9.08%). The main journal is English-speaking: Public Understanding of Science and in relation to the countries, Spain, Brazil and the United States are the ones with the highest production. The most relevant keywords are epistemology, education, science education, teacher training, learning. It is concluded that this intellectual production is interdisciplinary and is estimated to have been influenced by public policies. Likewise, the analysis reflects the interest on the subject in the educational field based on the socio-philosophical and epistemological nature of the main publications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

What is the role of experts and their expertise in the context of trans-science, in which issues that are raised in scientific terms cannot be answered by science alone? This article examines the discourses and practices around safety of low-dose exposure to radiation in the ongoing aftermath of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident in Japan in 2011. Following the nuclear fallout, scientific experts and STS scholars in Japan debated what forms of science communication were adequate to address the situation. Ethnographic research and textual analysis of their debates show a shift in emphasis on the role of experts from cultivating 'public understanding of science' for the sake of science and policy to an 'expert understanding of the public' for the sake of the public and its diverse everyday concerns. Two forms of expertise are emerging: 'co-expertise' and 'intra-mediary expertise'. Both are parts of a transition from a paternalistic form of expertise to one that acknowledges the need to engage the public to address issues of scientific uncertainty. However, co-expertise ultimately upholds the existing political structures that shape risk governance, while intra-mediary expertise engages those often excluded from current structures of accountability. Discussion of the potentials and limitations of emerging forms of expertise in Japan show that epistemic justice is not enough. Civic justice that acknowledges diverse publics and their needs must be upheld in the uncertain sphere between science, politics, and everyday life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Limnology & Oceanography Bulletin article announces the winners of the ASLO 2024 Achievement Awards, which recognize outstanding contributions to the fields of limnology and oceanography. Dr. Elizabeth Kujawinski received the G. Evelyn Hutchinson Award for her research in marine chemistry and metabolomics, while Dr. Richard LaBrie received the Raymond L. Lindeman Award for his paper on deep ocean microbial communities. Other awards were presented for lifetime achievement, solving environmental problems, high-impact research, excellence in education, and early career contributions. The article includes interviews with the award winners, discussing their work and future research directions. The text also covers various topics related to limnology and aquatic science education, highlighting the importance of collaboration, diverse sources of information, and the need for sound environmental policy based on scientific research. It emphasizes the principles of open science and the benefits it brings to the scientific community. [Extracted from the article]

This article examines the visions of citizens' ideal practices regarding technoscientific affairs in a democratic society, namely "imaginaries of model citizens," that underlie three science and public initiatives: public understanding of science, public engagement in science, and citizen science. While imaginaries of citizens are performative and necessary to these initiatives, they are often relegated to the background. I argue that such imaginaries are the result of a complex of perceptions on the nature of science, the role of democracy in scientific activities, and the form of "democratizing" science. The imaginary of model citizens in public understanding of science is of literate citizens who should know science sufficiently, use it in daily life, and support science; in public engagement in science, the model citizen is a responsible one who should engage in the governance of technoscientific issues; and in citizen science, a contributive one who should partake in and enjoy creating scientific knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research often explores the role of scientific expertise in policymaking from an externalised perspective, mostly focusing on how policymakers use and abuse scientific expertise through political learning. However, very little is known about political learning by scientific experts. What strategies do they use to maintain and advance their access to, and influence on policymaking? Using process tracing, we illustrate how scientific experts' access to policymaking is challenged as a policy issue develops. We explore how this nudges scientific experts to engage in political learning and employ political advocacy strategies to enhance science's role in policy making, corresponding to evolving political opportunity structures. We empirically trace this using the case of EU climate policy development between 1990 and 2022. We identify three main sets of advocacy strategies used by scientific experts: Narrative and semantic (policy issue-oriented), Socialisation (Actors-oriented), and Governance (systems and structures-oriented). In doing so, this article illustrates the political actorness and agency of scientific experts and provides a supplementary understanding to the role of science in public policy and policy change, not only as a function of policymaker's instrumentalization of science, but also as a function of how scientific experts actively advocate for science's role in public policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article "Altmetric Data Literacy" discusses the evolution of altmetrics from Altmetric 1.0 to Altmetric 3.0, highlighting the shift towards more nuanced and integrated approaches in assessing research impact. Altmetric literacy is defined as the ability to understand and critically evaluate alternative metrics that capture the broader impact of research beyond traditional citations. The article emphasizes the importance of platform-specific metrics, advanced statistics, and contextual insights in comprehensively understanding research impact and promoting altmetric literacy among researchers, librarians, and evaluation specialists. [Extracted from the article]

This article examines the concept of sexual diversity in the natural world and its implications for our understanding of sex, gender, and biology. It provides examples of sexual diversity in various species, including a parasitic relationship between a mayfly and a worm, same-sex courtship in bighorn sheep, and polymorphism in white-throated sparrows. The article emphasizes the need to carefully navigate the similarities and differences between sex, gender, and sexuality in humans and the natural world. It also challenges traditional understandings of testosterone and the role of X and Y chromosomes in determining biological sex, highlighting the importance of recognizing and teaching about the diversity of the natural world to foster a more inclusive and accurate understanding of sex and gender. [Extracted from the article]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to compare ten Open Science Portals in India. The comparison is made using the three primary parameters of accessibility, search engine optimization (SEO) and performance. This study aims to investigate whether the ten selected web portals efficiently meet the web accessibility requirements of the large population at an acceptable rate. Design/methodology/approach: This study was performed by using the Siteimprove web tool to collect information about Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0. The online accessibility tools provided by Siteimprove make it simple to comply with and follow the global WCAG at all compliance levels. This study selected ten web portals taking into account the open accessibility and the web portals offered by the Indian Government to promote research and innovation. Findings: The findings of this research will be beneficial for the government website designers, managers and administrators to assess their website's level of compliance with accepted accessibility standards so they can make tactical choices to increase accessibility. Originality/value: This study highlights the portals' robust characteristic features and downsides, where improvement may be required. It also focused on how these portals help in promoting citizen science and public understanding of science nationwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rising tide of misinformation is compromising civic discourse, and the pervasiveness of pseudoscience threatens rational decision-making on scientific issues. This paper uses Google Books and Google Trends data to report on several types of astronomical pseudoscience in English language books since 1800 and English language online searches since 2004, with a particular focus on the United States regarding Internet searches. These tools can be unreliable for diagnosing subtle or short-term trends, but they are robust for major trends over long timescales. Astrology, UFO and related terms have increased in occurrence in books over the past half-century and in web searches since 2004. In the 21st century, there is a striking rise in the occurrence of the word horoscope in books and its use in web searches. Mention of UFO has increased steadily in books since 1950, and spikes in web searches in the 21st-century track with a national UFO reporting database. Three aspects of the "culture" of UFOs have appeared much more frequently in books since the 1990s: alien abduction, crop circle, and ancient astronauts. For web searches since 2004, the first two dominate, with the search peaks generally correlated with the release of related movies. By all these measures, pseudoscience is on the rise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As societal discussion on the public opinion of science and technology ignites over and over again, understanding where such opinions are rooted is increasingly relevant. A handful of prior studies have suggested personality traits as a root of science and technology attitudes. However, these report mixed findings, and employ small student or convenience samples. This leaves considerable uncertainty regarding personality traits' relation to attitudes toward science and technology. If in fact stable psychological predispositions play a role, this has considerable implications for science policy and science communication. This article investigates the relationship between the big five personality traits and science attitudes in Germany and the Netherlands. Findings indicate that personality traits are related to science attitudes but only very weakly so, among them openness to experience and negative emotionality are most notably related to science attitudes, whereas extraversion, in contrast to prior studies, shows no relation to science and technology attitudes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Politicization is frequently employed as an analytic concept to explain the relationships between politics and media coverage of climate change. However, relatively few works explore how different notions of politicization are mobilized by actors in media discourses themselves. This article does so via a framing analysis of climate change coverage in Canadian newspapers. I investigate how different relationships between science and politics are conceived and associated with varying positions on climate change. In particular, I examine a supposition in science and technology studies that the media remains committed to deficit models and thus uncritically reproduces the authority of science. Scientistic discourses exist but among a diversity of politicization framings. A key finding is that the strongest appeals to scientific neutrality are associated with climate skepticism. This casts light on the nuanced, strategic "politics of politicization" in climate change debates. A more fine-grained and reflexive approach to politicization discourses can help identify productive interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The association between environmental degradation, social disparities, and disease emergence has become clearer than ever in the last decades, emphasizing the need for scientific approaches to protect human and environmental health. Despite scientific consensus, however, the general public often lacks awareness and understanding of these relationships. Misinformation and compartmentalized knowledge further complicate conveying the importance of the subject to the lay population. Thus, scientists must engage in effective scientific communication and promote scientific literacy (SL) among the public. This study discusses the strategies that may be employed to overcome disinformation and enhance scientific literacy and communication, all of which are paramount to deepen the understanding of the connections between biodiversity conservation, environmental health, and public well-being, empowering individuals to take informed actions for a sustainable and healthy future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the cultural history of Donald Duck and his friends in comics, highlighting their global popularity and influence in various forms of media. It explores how the Duck family comics have reflected societal changes over time, focusing on themes such as science, education, and ethnicity. The article discusses Disney's efforts to address representation of marginalized groups and gender roles, while also acknowledging the need for further diversity and inclusion. It also explores the portrayal of capitalism in the comics, noting that it offers a nuanced reflection of the economic structure. Overall, the article suggests that Disney's Duck comics are valuable artifacts that provide insights into American society. [Extracted from the article]

This article examines the connection between professional entomology, citizen science, and public policy. It explores how professional entomologists can use citizen science to impact public policy. The article emphasizes the value of involving the public in scientific research through citizen science, highlighting its potential for education, research, and societal goals. It also discusses the influence of citizen science on public policy, the role of professional entomology in citizen science, and the impact of citizen science on professional entomology. The article concludes by emphasizing the importance of educating the public and policymakers about the significance of arthropods in ecosystems and human life. A symposium on the topic of trust between scientists and the public is also discussed, emphasizing the need for scientists to build trust through listening, transparency, and effective communication. Collaboration and partnerships, such as citizen science projects, are seen as ways to address trust issues. The symposium also highlights the importance of diversity and inclusivity in outreach and education efforts, as well as the need for an unbiased approach to scientific inquiry. Citizen science is viewed as a means to engage the public and influence policy through informed decision-making. [Extracted from the article]

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]