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This capstone project tells the untold story of marine diamond mining, tracing its origins from the shores of Namibia to the fjords of Greenland. Despite the stark differences between these two locales, they share striking similarities in diamond potential. In Namibia, marine diamond mining flourished prior to the country's independence and the establishment of international mining laws, setting a precedent for potential challenges in Greenland's current political landscape. Through in-depth research, stakeholder interviews, and media production, this project fosters an informed storyline for a full-length documentary film. The capstone deliverables encompass a film treatment, budget, film plan, concise trailer, and transcribed interviews, strategically crafted towards securing future support of the project. The outcome of such seeking to advocate for greater transparency in the diamond industry and policies that prioritize both economic development and environmental integrity. The final film will engage audiences worldwide in considering the implications of marine diamond mining for Greenland's evolving climate and economy.CLARITY film treatment can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/ClarityTreatment CLARITY interview transcriptions can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/ClarityTranscriptions

Social media usage has soared in the last decade, with the majority of adults having an account on at least one platform. Sites such as LinkedIn, X, and TikTok allow users to share content using different forms, for example, written or video, long form or short form. Social media can be used by researchers to forge collaborations, rapidly disseminate new research, and demonstrate societal impact. This opinion piece aims to highlight the value of social media, in particular for early career researchers, and offer suggestions on how early career researchers can strategically use social media to build a network and an online presence. We reflect on our own experiences of social media and include some of the reasons we have been deterred from it in the past, such as fear of making a mistake, being misunderstood, or painted as being an overconfident "know it all." As the demonstration of impact and engagement becomes ever more important in grant applications and job security, social media competency is a powerful professional skill that will be important for all scientists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some Kind of Liberating Effect is a documentary dedicated to research freedom in the academic study of religion in Central and Eastern Europe. This essay examines the techniques used to develop a script and a screenplay. It will show how the documentary integrates screenwriting with the question of freedom of research in this academic field and region. First, the essay presents the raw footage filmed between 2022 and 2023, then the screenwriting techniques used for plotting a story. Finally, it discusses the shift from the history of the academic field to storytelling, particularly with regard to the frame story included in the film. In conclusion, it presents some remarks concerning the interdisciplinary and intersectoral approaches between religious studies and the film industry implemented in the documentary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the search for a repository site for high-level radioactive waste in Germany, the perception of safety and trust in the actors are central to public acceptance. In communicating safety, methods of safety assessment and the role of uncertainties need to be addressed. Given the complexity of the issue, there is a need for indicators that are suitable both for assessing the long-term safety of repositories and for communicating with the general public. Similarly, there is a requirement to communicate uncertainties in an accessible manner. The TRANSENS project provides basic research in nuclear waste management (NWM) and utilizes a transdisciplinary approach: Non-experts who are not directly affected by the site selection process and who have no stated interest in NWM are involved in the research process, as are practice actors. A series of four transdisciplinary workshops was specifically designed to explore the perspectives of individuals with a high level of disciplinary knowledge but no system knowledge of NWM. Participants were selected from doctoral students in science and technology who had no prior knowledge in this area. Two of these workshops address the questions stated above and are presented here. The article describes the considerations underlying the workshop planning and implementation phases, and the content developed in the workshops on indicator selection and visualisation of uncertainties. The participants compiled a list of desirable indicator properties, which showed a high degree of congruence with the relevant literature. A proposal for a database to collect, administer and assess uncertainties shows similarities with the approach followed by the German implementer and complements it with an interactive visualisation. Transdisciplinary work is resource-intensive and its use in a research context must be carefully considered for each individual application. A transdisciplinary approach was successfully used for the purposes of method validation, method optimisation and the development of disciplinary impulses. An application of transdisciplinary approaches for optimising the Safety Case of nuclear repositories is feasible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 2020--2022 pandemic highlighted concerns about "information disorders", pressing for approaches capable of guiding the science-society alliance toward a mutually beneficial direction. This essay advocates for and presents a framework proposing the combination of Open Science (OS) and Science Communication (SciComm) practices. OS encourages public access to scientific material, while SciComm has historically enabled public understanding of scientific knowledge. Despite their similar goals, these two communities are disconnected. We draw on the concepts of "boundary object" and "epistemic trust" to demonstrate how this framework could foster a bond between scientific expertise and public reason toward an informed and inclusive common good. The OS-SciComm framework is based on the notion that ensuring transparency in science also requires "bridging tools" that deal with the complexity of scientific lexicon and processes. It values scientific expertise, but does not undermine citizens' capabilities in information processing and their interest in accessing scientific outputs. Our proposal also acknowledges controversies involving open scientific materials during the COVID-19 pandemic and advises caution when drawing conclusions from cases that are often context-specific. The OS-SciComm framework requires innovative ideas, platforms and actions. We invite both communities to join us in this endeavor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Having access to information about science is essential for citizens to relate to global challenges. The COVID-19 pandemic is a clear example of how citizens' dependency on scientific information increased. This study aimed to gain an understanding of the challenges researchers and journalists encountered in communicating about COVID-19 and included an analysis of their roles and responsibilities in science-media interactions. Method: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with experienced journalists (n = 10) and prominent academic researchers in fields relevant to COVID-19 (n = 11) in the Netherlands. Results: Results show that the pandemic highlighted several challenges in science-media interactions. The pandemic's complexity, uncertainty, and large societal impact put pressure on researchers and journalists who dealt with the societal need for relevant information and combatting misinformation. In response to the challenges they encountered, researchers and journalists had frequent and ongoing interactions with each other. For researchers, this raised the issue of how to balance their responsibilities to inform and advise as public experts. For journalists, this highlighted the need to avoid reporter-source intimacy and remain independent and critical when reporting about science. Conclusion: These findings raise new issues on the roles and responsibilities of researchers and journalists in urgent, fast-moving contexts such as those experienced during the pandemic and other global challenges. Successful responses to challenges such as dealing with misinformation and pre-prints require further reflection on the roles and responsibilities of both actors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many countries worldwide have seen populist resentment against scientists, which can manifest as "science-related populist attitudes" among the population. These attitudes can be assumed to divide populations into multiple segments—each endorsing or rejecting different facets of science-related populism, with segment sizes and characteristics varying between countries and cultural contexts. This study tests this with a secondary analysis of four public opinion surveys from Austria, Germany, Switzerland, and Taiwan (total N = 4598), combining a Most Similar Systems Design (MSSD) and a Most Different Systems Design (MDSD). It uses fixed-effects latent class analysis to demonstrate that Austrian, German, Swiss, and Taiwanese publics can be grouped into three segments: Full-Fledged Populists, People-Centric Non-Populists, and Deferent Anti-Populists. A large majority in all countries can be classified as Non-Populist or Anti-Populists, whereas Populists, who support the entire spectrum of science-related populism, make up the smallest segment. Bayesian regression shows that Populists are older and more likely to support right-leaning political views. Cross-country and cross-cultural comparisons reveal differences in segment sizes and characteristics: For example, Populists are more prevalent in Austria, while Germany has a large proportion of Anti-Populists. These are less widespread in Taiwan, where Non-Populists form a particularly big segment. The findings can be explained with national political, cultural, and historical contexts to some degree. Eventually, they are discussed against the backdrop implications for science communication and future scholarship on public science skepticism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Meaningful action and engagement are needed in a time of rapid planetary change and biodiversity loss. They cannot be achieved through scientific outputs alone, and scientists are increasingly recognizing the need to work with a diverse range of collaborators to communicate their research and engage society. We used a semi-structured survey of 34 previous artistic collaborators with our research group, the Adrift Lab, to collect information on their motivations, rewards, challenges, and lessons learned from a wide array of projects ranging from furniture and jewelry design to documentary filmmaking. Clear patterns emerged, including that participating in an art-science collaboration with Adrift Lab resulted in a greater sense of community, an ability and empowerment to make meaningful contributions to environmental issues, and inspiration for artists to shift the focus of their work, leading to additional, environmental-focused collaborations with other scientists. How artists discovered Adrift Lab's research and the reasons they chose to engage with our research was somewhat unexpected, with more traditional modes of outreach such as conference presentations and the Adrift Lab website having little influence. Instead, artists often selected Adrift Lab as a collaborator based on their perception that our group was approachable and readily shared ideas and knowledge. These results highlight the willingness of many artists to collaborate with scientists, the mutual benefits of these relationships, and advice for others looking for unique ways, small or large, to engage with new audiences. We conclude with our own recommendations for scientists who wish to collaborate with artists and our enthusiastic advice to do so. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The demand for alternative methods of providing informed consent is increasing, especially in research with marginalised (or illiterate) research participants. This article discusses the co-creation of a visual informed consent (VIC), in collaboration with an artist. The VIC was inspired by the experience of obtaining informed consent from a group of migrant women with limited English proficiency, in empirical research undertaken on agroecology and health in Coventry, UK. Reflecting further on its creation and wider utility, this article explores the inner values that might guide researchers and lead to the co-creation of care-full tools that meet the needs of research participants. Specifically, this includes, reflecting on the iterative process of developing a VIC and using an ethics of care as a primary conceptual framework. Findings reveal that participants' understanding of ethical issues is facilitated using visual illustrations. It is argued that the creation of a VIC requires the researcher to be attentive to the embodied nature of research practice and guided by an ethics of care. A conceptual framework that integrates care and embodiment is presented, with the intention that it may further support the development of care-full research by others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social media platforms like Twitter offer scientists the opportunity to share professional, personal, and scientific information with the public. This study explores the effects of these self-disclosure types. In an online between-subjects experiment (N = 1458), participants rated scientists who disclosed personal information as more likable but less competent, and scientists who disclosed professional information as more competent and engaging. Subsequently, these perceptions influenced tweet engagement and certain scientific attitudes. Social presence served as a mediator between self-disclosure and perceptions. These findings broaden our understanding of science communication on Twitter as situated within a social media platform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-formal learning institutions use interpretive plans to create effective interpretation (mission-based communications) for their visitors. This article argues that interpretive planning offers professional and technical communicators great potential for engaging with communities. Following an introduction to the field of interpretation and interpretive planning, I explain how interpretive plans are a type of metagenre. I then provide technical communicators with specific examples of how technical communicators' expertise is relevant to interpretation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wikipedia's influence in shaping public perceptions of science underscores the significance of scientists being recognized on the platform, as it can impact their careers. Although Wikipedia offers guidelines for determining when a scientist qualifies for their own article, it currently lacks guidance regarding whether a scientist should be acknowledged in articles related to the innovation processes to which they have contributed. To explore how Wikipedia addresses this issue of scientific "micro-notability," we introduce a digital method called Name Edit Analysis, enabling us to quantitatively and qualitatively trace mentions of scientists within Wikipedia's articles. We study two CRISPR-related Wikipedia articles and find dynamic negotiations of micro-notability as well as a surprising tension between Wikipedia's principle of safeguarding against self-promotion and the scholarly norm of "due credit." To reconcile this tension, we propose that Wikipedians and scientists collaborate to establish specific micro-notability guidelines that acknowledge scientific contributions while preventing excessive self-promotion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A recent wave of studies has diversified science communication by emphasizing gender, race, and disability. In this article, we focus on the understudied lens of religion. Based on an analysis of ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) science journalism and its readership, we identify four main strategies for tailoring science, which we call the four "R"s—removing, reclaiming, remodeling, and rubricating science. By analyzing how science communication is produced by and for a particular religious group, we reveal the diverse ways a religious-sensitive science communication is shaped by community gatekeepers, while also exploring the ethical and epistemological tensions this tailoring entails. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A goal of many science communicators is to foster trust in scientists and their work. This study investigates if existing textual resources that scientists create in the course of their regular activities can be improved to enhance perceptions of scientists as trustworthy. Building on Mayer et al.'s integrative model of organizational trust, we examine how communicating benevolence through short biographies can affect trustworthiness perceptions using a 3 (degree of benevolence information: high, unspecified, low) × 3 (research area: crop genetics, corn and soy genetics, biotechnology use) survey design. We find that the degree of benevolence information significantly influences perceptions of benevolence and integrity, as well as willingness to trust, with these effects being consistent across different research areas. However, the degree of benevolence communicated had no significant effect on the perceived competence of the scientists. These findings underscore the importance of highlighting benevolence in communication to positively influence trustworthiness perceptions, thus offering insights for science communication practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Several health institutions developed strategies to improve health content on Wikimedia platforms given their unparalleled reach. The objective of this study was to compare an online volunteer-based Wikimedia outreach campaign with university course Wikipedia assignments (both focused on improving hearing health content in Wikimedia's public digital knowledge archives), in terms of the reach of the contributions and the extent of the participants' input. A secondary objective was to examine the feasibility and the implementation of the different strategies. Methods: The research team partnered for the (1) coordination of improvements in hearing and healthcare content through educational programs using Wikimedia platforms, (2) participation in the global campaign Wiki4WorldHearingDay2023 and (3) evaluation of the proposed strategies. Metrics used in the comparison of the two strategies included the number of articles edited, number of views of the edited articles (as reach) and the extent of edits, captured as the number of words. The feasibility evaluation included assessing recruitment success and the implementation of the proposed plan among faculty, students from various university programs, and volunteers representing different constituencies. Results: The effort increased the availability of quality plain language information on hearing conditions and hearing care. Both strategies demonstrated to be feasible by their success in recruiting participants who contributed to the effort and by measurable outputs as edits. The contribution of content to Wikimedia platforms as part of education activities provided a more robust result. Wiki4WorldHearingDay2023 145 participants (78 from educational programs) contributed 167,000 words, 258 + references and 140 images to 322 Wikipedia articles (283 existing and 39 new ones), which were viewed 16.5 million times. Contributions occurred in six languages. Edits in Portuguese, mainly by those involved in educational programs, led the number of articles (226 or 70.2%) that were expanded or created during the 5-month tracking period. Conclusions: The elements that contributed to the success of the studied strategies include an impact topic, coordination with educational programs, international multidisciplinary collaborations, the dissemination of the initiative in several platforms, connection with a robust local Wikimedia affiliate, and the use of a technical infrastructure that provides metrics and coordination mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For complex and socially contentious environmental issues, such as climate change and disease prevention, science communication has proven difficult. As many science communication scholars have determined, education is not the only factor impacting the public's willingness to act upon or even accept scientific information. In this study, we propose using Niklas Luhmann's theory of social systems as a framework for research in science and environmental communication. We argue that by focusing on the functions of relevant social systems, the occurrence of communication conflicts may be explained, and new approaches to overcome communication obstacles can be developed. In this study, we provide examples of the theory's utility by looking at pertinent studies regarding relevant systems integral to addressing climate change and sustainability issues, as well as propose new subjects for exploration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Media narratives employed in contemporary journalism, including data journalism, are critical in shaping public understanding of the complex systems that affect our lives. Depicting a chain of events in a "story" format, narratives are constructed with detailed, precise, and well-researched information based on character identification, human emotions, and real social problems. In many ways, they are indispensable intermediaries of practiced judgment and expertise that guide the public to meaningfully engage with evidence-based understanding of our world and how we can act upon it. DMDU narratives suggest that we can act to shape the future toward our liking even when we cannot predict what that future will be, that we need to simultaneously consider multiple rather than a single future, and that the quest for prediction can interfere with the task of identifying the best actions. DMDU practice relies on substantive stakeholder interaction, and it is supported by vast amounts of empirical evidence. This perspective discusses how media narratives intersect with DMDU to informand to leverage the complexities ofmodern contemporary public challenges. We first explore how uncertainty might be actionable, as opposed to fearful. Next, while acknowledging limitations on transference of information during the journalistic process, we address the challenges and best strategies to distill information to the public to maintain and build trust about uncertainty. Next, we discuss how journalistic practices could be useful for disseminating more broadly findings of DMDU analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aim to eradicate poverty and inequality, protect the planet, and ensure health, justice, and prosperity for all, emphasizing inclusivity. Within the realm of scholarly publishing, the panel discussion Can scholarly publishers change the world? The role of the SDGs within the publishing industry held at Academic Publishing in Europe 2024, highlighted the business advantages of aligning with SDGs and made a plea to reshape the narrative beyond mere moral obligation as well as to galvanize stakeholders to take action and promote engagement, offering a clear direction. This paper expands on the panel discussion, which was moderated by Stephanie Dawson, CEO, ScienceOpen. Panellists were Agata Morka, Regional Director, Publishing Development, PLOS, Charlie Rapple, Chief Customer Officer and Co-founder, Kudos, Nikesh Gosalia, President Global Academic and Publisher Relations, Cactus Communications, and Ritu Dhand, Chief Scientific Officer, Springer Nature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the effectiveness of communication of a podcast was assessed regarding the variables knowledge retention and interest. Two podcast episodes were produced about Portuguese research in sustainable food, and two news pieces with similar information and reading times were written to be used as a control for this experiment. Initially, 115 students from two universities in Lisbon filled in an online pre-test questionnaire. One week later, 102 students from those 115 students initially assessed listened to one podcast or read one news piece and completed an online post-test questionnaire. Statistical analysis showed a significant increase in the knowledge retention in both media and no significant differences in what concerns interest on food sustainability or science. Moreover, it was found that there were no significant differences between the two tested media in both the knowledge retention and interest. Nevertheless, the recent popularity of podcasts may justify its production as a new and flexible way to communicate science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An editorial focuses on rethinking the role of scientific knowledge in climate communication, exploring how knowledge is used and its effectiveness in influencing behavioral changes. It critiques traditional models that emphasize knowledge as a direct precursor to action, arguing instead for a more nuanced understanding that incorporates diverse forms of knowledge and emphasizes dialogue-oriented communication.

Philosophers and social scientists largely agree that fake news is not just necessarily untruthful, but necessarily insincere: it’s produced either with the intention to deceive or an indifference toward its truth. Against this, I argue insincerity is neither a necessary nor obviously typical feature of fake news. The main argument proceeds in two stages. The first, methodological step develops classification criteria for identifying instances of fake news. By attending to expressed theoretical and practical interests, I observe how our classification practices turn on worries about fake news’s unique political-epistemic risks. From this, I argue (i) theories of fake news should capture independent mechanisms that realise these risks and (ii) the manifestation of them suffices for classifying a news story as fake news. The second step applies the classification criteria to bad science journalism. I argue the systematic epistemic faults in bad science journalism manifest the same political-epistemic risks we see in fake news, which suffices to justify classifying it as fake news. But since such faults aren’t plausibly attributed to its propagators being insincere, insincerity doesn’t function independently as a mechanism for realising fake news’s political-epistemic risks. Thus, I conclude, we should exclude insincerity from our accounts of the phenomenon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

People's trust in science is generally high. Yet in public policy disputes invoking scientific issues, people's trust in science is typically polarized, aligned with their political preferences. Theorists of science and democracy have reasoned that a polarization of trust in scientific information could be mitigated by clearly disentangling scientific claims from political ones. We tested this proposition experimentally in three German public policy disputes: a) school closures versus openings during the COVID-19 pandemic, b) a ban on versus a continuation of domestic air traffic in view of climate change, and c) the shooting of wolves in residential areas or their protection. In each case study, we exposed participants to one of four versions of a news item citing a scientist reporting their research and giving policy advice. The scientist's quotes differed with regard to the direction and style of their policy advice. As an epistocrat, the scientist blurs the distinction between scientific and political claims, purporting to "prove" a policy and thereby precluding a societal debate over values and policy priorities. As an honest broker, the scientist distinguishes between scientific and political claims, presenting a policy option while acknowledging the limitations of their disciplinary scientific perspective of a broader societal problem. We find that public policy advice in the style of an honest broker versus that of an epistocrat can attenuate political polarization of trust in scientists and scientific findings by enhancing trust primarily among the most politically challenged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Science communication is a core skill for undergraduate science students to acquire in preparation for their future careers, but studies show that this skill is underdeveloped in science graduates. The aim of this study was to discover the resources and approaches undergraduate students use to effectively develop their science communication skills and how the use of these methods relates to academic performance on a communication task. Undergraduate students undertaking a second-year biomedical science course (n = 490) were asked which approaches and resources they used to aid the development of their science communication skills, and the frequency of their responses was correlated against their laboratory report mark, using multiple regression and relative weights analysis. Students' (n = 453) use of Communication Learning in Practice for Scientists (CLIPS; an open-access interactive website on science communication), resources provided by the university, interactions with university teaching staff, and engagement with the scientific literature significantly predicted the laboratory report mark. Students enrolled in a blended format or in remote online learning only, and in different programs, performed comparably in the written report and used similar approaches and resources, other than remote students reporting more use of other online resources and students in blended learning engaging more with university resources. Together, these findings provide insight into which strategies are most helpful for undergraduate students to engage with to improve their scientific communication skills. The findings highlight that the provision of well-designed interactive communication resources, guided assessment resources, and opportunities to engage with teaching staff can assist in the development of science communication skills. NEW & NOTEWORTHY: This study identifies the approaches and resources that undergraduate science students use to develop their science communication skills. It reveals which of these approaches and resources predict improved academic performance in a written science communication assessment task. The findings point to the importance of explicit guidance, and engagement with teaching staff, in advancing the development of science communication skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a novel approach to teaching how vaccines work in the body, and introduces a community outreach project and activity we piloted with youth. Our Nuestra Ciencia program addresses scientific misconceptions among bilingual elementary school children in engaging and scientifically accurate ways. Utilizing analogies and storytelling, one of our lessons simplifies the complex microbiology concept of the mechanism of action of vaccines. We underscore the issue with conveying this concept through accurate visuals, supported by our research that revealed that less than 1% of cartoons available online accurately depict how vaccines work. The analogy we developed and showcase in this paper employs relatable characters: the virus as a robber, the immune system as a superhero, and the vaccine as a "most wanted" poster. The activities include a skit and storyboard session, enabling students to act out the analogy and create their own imaginative scenarios. By targeting young learners, this lesson aims to prevent long-standing misconceptions and empower future generations to make informed decisions about vaccination. Nuestra Ciencia offers a promising model for combating vaccine hesitancy and promoting public health through effective science communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Background: Podcasts have become a popular digital forum for discussing scientific information with peers, as well as with the non‐scientific community, often referred to as 'edutainment'. It is unclear how science‐based podcasts can support the veterinary industry through, for example, supporting good husbandry practices. Objectives: To understand the influence of 'edutainment' on equine owners' husbandry decisions. Study design: The sample population were listeners of the Conversations in Equine Science (CES) podcast recruited to complete an online survey via a link promoted by the CES hosts. The survey contained Likert‐like questions assessing how listeners rated the importance of different forms of evidence when making husbandry decisions and questions relating to husbandry changes made. Methods: A mixed methods approach was used to analyse the data. The Likert package for R was used to explore importance ratings. Free text questions were analysed via a content analysis with a constructionist epistemological position. Results: The experience of veterinarians and scientific evidence were considered the most important forms of evidence that owners used when making decisions about their horse's management (93% agreed and 91% agreed they were important respectively). Additionally, 74% of respondents had made a change to the management or training principles prompted by an episode of CES, suggesting edutainment can be a prompt to management change. Of these, the majority (55%) had done so based on a joint discussion of the podcast and their own reading of the evidence. Main limitations: This was an opportunistic sample of those already invested in the edutainment format and may not represent those owners with no interest in scientific evidence. Conclusions: Podcasts are an easy‐access, low‐cost medium to convey research and current trends in the equine/equitation science genre. They may be a valuable tool for the veterinary industry to employ to support horse welfare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Existing studies demonstrate how biomedical researchers construct multiethnic populations as biovaluable. A multiethnic population with a diverse gene pool allows for the scaling of disease research and treatments to other countries. This "fact" serves an important role to attract investments in the national bioscientific sector. Yet these studies do not describe how such promissory narratives are translated for public consumption, an important step given how science policy requires public buy-in. My research asks how the relationship between Singapore and Asia is constructed as biovaluable through the media. Examining the media discourse on diabetes in Singapore, I find that the construction of biovalue in the media (1) relies on emotional and pragmatic appeals to Asian inclusivity in scientific research, (2) highlights biological Asian difference and market opportunities based on scaling, and (3) enacts the connection between Singapore and Asia in a distorted manner where ethnic minorities are sometimes excluded. This research builds on the existing literature on the political economy of the biosciences through examining the intersection between science policy, public health, race and ethnicity, and scientific communication in postcolonial nations such as Singapore, where the media plays an authoritative role in communicating scientific information to the public. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The methods and result of scientific studies are often difficult to understand for non-specialists due to their esoteric nature. Such lack of understanding means that such work is removed from our normal life experience, and thus, the applicability, interest and use of such work can be minimal. The communication of geoscience finds a natural conduit through geoheritage. A good example of an inaccessible technique far removed from everyday experience is anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS), an extremely useful geoscience technique with many applications, including finding strain and flow directions in rocks. We explored here how to make "AMS" understandable, using three different volcanic sites where the flow of molten rock is an important aspect, each situated in different types of geoheritage visitation context (wild trekkers, beach visitors, and walkers). The method we developed and tested follows the production of simple and adapted explanations, and is coupled with geoheritage inventorying and communication. We utilized the tangible geological features of outcrops, as well as intangible elements such as rock magnetic data, and conducted a geoheritage inventory using the modified geosite assessment model (M-GAM) to create narratives for popular comprehension. The M-GAM analysis has identified the geosites of the San Bartolo lava flow of the Stromboli volcano for the communication of AMS. Later, a simple and comprehensible definition of AMS and thus of the flow processes was created using a step-by-step process. This method could be useful for scientific studies to allow them to reach out to a wider public, using their input in the simple explanation stage to con-construct a narrative. This would provide a way for science to be more widely appreciated, useful and applicable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has demonstrated its ability to undertake writing tasks, including automated journalism. Prior studies suggest no differences between human and AI authors regarding perceived message credibility. However, research on people's perceptions of AI authorship on complex topics is lacking. In a between-groups experiment (N = 734), we examined the effect of labeled authorship on credibility perceptions of a GPT-written science journalism article. The results of an equivalence test showed that labeling a text as AI-written vs. human-written reduced perceived message credibility (d = 0.36). Moreover, AI authorship decreased perceived source credibility (d = 0.24), anthropomorphism (d = 0.67), and intelligence (d = 0.41). The findings are discussed against the backdrop of a growing availability of AI-generated content and a greater awareness of AI authorship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

GeoTraductores is an collaborative initiative between Eos, Planeteando, andGeoLatinas that aims to provide Spanish‐speaking communities access to current scientific findings. This goal is accomplished by translating science articles originally published in English on AGU's Eos.org, within their Science News magazine, into Spanish. This cross‐organizational initiative has translated, edited, and published over 150 articles, breaking the language barrier for Spanish‐speaking communities. Our experience since 2020 has allowed us to tailor an efficient co‐production model, which starts with (a) the selection of articles of interest to translate, followed by (b) the translation, reviewing, and editing process by volunteers, and (c) the publication and social media dissemination of the translated article. The tangible impact of GeoTraductores is evident in the substantial surge of visitor traffic to the Eos website between 2020 and 2023, particularly from Latin American countries. Notably, increases exceeding 85% were observed in Colombia, Mexico, and Panama, with 20% or greater growth in Chile, Brazil, Costa Rica, Peru, and Ecuador, confirming the initiative's success in meeting a genuine need. This impact extends globally, with Spain experiencing a 40% increase in visitors. Our co‐production model is possible thanks to the contribution of around 40 GeoTraductores, mainly women (85%), who are native Spanish speakers or bilingual (Spanish and English speaking). These early‐career scientists, through their volunteer work, enhance their bilingual communication skills while breaking down language barriers in science communication. The Eos‐Planeteando‐GeoLatinas co‐production model fosters science democratization for Latin America while promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in Earth Sciences, one translation at a time. Plain Language Summary: GeoTraductores is an Eos, GeoLatinas, and Planeteando initiative based on co‐production and volunteering to provide Spanish‐speaking communities access to current scientific findings through translations. Within the Eos en Español project, this initiative translates science articles from English into Spanish. Between 2020 and 2023, GeoTraductores has translated, edited, and published over 150 articles, thus breaking down the language barrier for Spanish‐speaking communities. We have developed an efficient co‐production model that involves article selection, volunteering translation, review, editing, and publication as well as social media dissemination of the translated article. The impact of GeoTraductores is evident in the substantial surge of visitor traffic to the Eos website between 2020 and 2023, particularly from Latin American countries. For example, visits to the website from Colombia, Mexico, and Panama increased by over 85% and grew 20% or more in Chile, Brazil, Costa Rica, Peru, and Ecuador. This impact extends to Spain experiencing a 40% increase in visitors. This co‐production model is possible thanks to the contribution of 40 GeoTraductores, mainly women (85%), who are native Spanish speakers or bilingual early‐career scientists. The Eos‐Planeteando‐GeoLatinas co‐production model fosters science democratization for Latin America while promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in Earth Sciences, one translation at a time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapidly increasing demand for STEM skills, many scientists, mathematicians, engineers, and technology professionals encourage students to pursue STEM careers. However, communicating science to lay audiences is challenging due to complex scientific terminology. This qualitative research aimed to demonstrate how an exemplary scientist, Dr. Reed, used storytelling to teach science in a 7-month internship for high school students. Data sources included real-time videos, field notes, and individual student interviews. Labov's model was used to analyze 75 stories. The analysis shows that Dr. Reed's stories mainly targeted eight teaching purposes. Telling such stories allowed Dr. Reed to relate scientific practices to what the students were experiencing in the science internship. Science educators can use this study's findings to build their storytelling practice with the goal of communicating science to students more effectively. [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]

With their increasing popularity, there is a need for more research clarifying the potential strengths and weaknesses of the comic format for education. The panelled comic format may be particularly effective for educating adults on the scientific aspects of processes (sequences of events, occurring over time, in a series of discrete steps). We tested change in performance in adults (n = 879) in correctly ordering the stages in four processes before and after being exposed to educational material about these processes. The material was presented in a random selection of one of seven experimentally manipulated formats based on characteristics of comic books. Overall, participant performance improved after seeing the educational material. There were significant differences in learning between the processes, suggesting that the benefits, or detriments, of the comic format may be subject-specific. Performance was significantly better when images were subdivided into panels, and worse when an explanatory agent (character) was included, though these differences in performance did not survive adjustment for multiple comparisons. This study presents some evidence that the panelled nature of the comic format supports learning about scientific processes in adults. Given results differed notably between the specific topics to be learned, there is substantial scope for further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Zeitschrift für Angewandte Linguistik is the property of De Gruyter 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.)

Copyright of Berliner Journal für Soziologie is the property of Springer Nature 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.)

Vaccine hesitancy was a serious problem in the United States throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, due in part to the reduction in public trust in science that accompanied the pandemic. Now we are facing a new, similar but more extensive problem: booster hesitancy. Even fewer Americans are current on the mRNA booster. We present the results of an experiment with residents of the US who received all initial doses of the mRNA vaccine but who were not up to date on the booster. Participants read a scientific explanation describing either the safety or the effectiveness of the boosters or nothing in the control group. The explanations significantly increased (compared to the control) participants' perceptions of the safety and effectiveness of the mRNA booster, as well as their willingness to get boosted. Explanations also improved emotions and attitudes toward the booster. Furthermore, although liberals were significantly more willing to get boosted than were conservatives, improvement due to the explanations was similar across political ideology groups. However, when interactions were observed, conservatives increased to a greater degree. Importantly, the explanations increased participants' perception of scientists' expertise and knowledge, as well as participants' trust in scientists and the vaccine technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although artificial intelligence (AI) has been used in chemistry, more or less covertly, for many decades (databases for data management, programs for designing synthesis, toxicological expert systems, etc.), the massive emergence of user-friendly artificial intelligence presents an interesting opportunity and challenge for chemists to improve the communication power of chemistry and its position in society. Although repeatedly questioned by many critics per se value-neutral generative AI stands a good chance of becoming an important tool for presenting chemical information throughout all strata of society. Additionally, it can support the spread of science-based opinions on chemistry to the public and help popularize science in general as well. AI allows virtually every scientist to become a major player in science communication. This could lead to a containment of chemophobia. However, the use of AI as a communication tool requires continuous education, personal development and training of those who use it, in this case chemists and scientists in general. They will play a crucial role as arbiters of the appropriateness, adequacy and factual accuracy of the content generated by generative AI. The democratization of communication made possible by generative AI entails the need to adapt the dialogue to the communication preferences, demography and education of the interlocutors. Thus, generative AI empowers both those who enter the prompts and those who receive the subsequent results. Most scientists do not realize it, but generative AI puts the public, not scientists, at the center of communication. It is important to recognize this and use generative AI to target communication, education, and overall community development. The clash of narratives that may be a natural consequence of the growing number of generative AI users and the increasing amount of content being created may, perhaps unexpectedly for many, lead to the opposite result – a new Enlightenment. Either way, chemists would do well to be there; for their ability to understand the laws of matter, the beginning and end of things; for the dual nature of chemistry as an art and a science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The practically unlimited spread of pseudo-scientific and pseudo-expert assessments in today’s media generates an active social request for critical thinking, which can only rely on a scientifically based position. At the same time, the competitive nature of the “science communication” and “scientific communication” concepts need to be philosophically reviewed using the methodology of contemporary theories and considering the current global and national challenges. Using the methodological approaches of Markus Dressel, three main models of interaction between science and society (SSIMs) were analyzed (technocratic, decisionist, and pragmatic ones) through the issue of establishing a common field of discourse between scientists and non-scientists. Brian Trench and Massimiano Bucchi differentiate three models of science communication – the deficit model, the engagement model, and the participation model (from deficit to dialogue and participation models). These models can be considered as a way of institutionalizing the interaction of science and society – respectively, the directions of science popularization, enhancement of the expert role of science in society, and participation of non-scientists in certain elements of scientific research. The article aimed to reveal the main trends in studying the institutional potential of the social influence on science communication globally and in Ukraine particularly. As research demonstrates, the deficit model dominates in Ukraine, though the expert role of science and community science as a form of society’s participation in performing scientific tasks is developing ever more intensely.

Abstract Background Several health institutions developed strategies to improve health content on Wikimedia platforms given their unparalleled reach. The objective of this study was to compare an online volunteer-based Wikimedia outreach campaign with university course Wikipedia assignments (both focused on improving hearing health content in Wikimedia’s public digital knowledge archives), in terms of the reach of the contributions and the extent of the participants’ input. A secondary objective was to examine the feasibility and the implementation of the different strategies. Methods The research team partnered for the (1) coordination of improvements in hearing and healthcare content through educational programs using Wikimedia platforms, (2) participation in the global campaign Wiki4WorldHearingDay2023 and (3) evaluation of the proposed strategies. Metrics used in the comparison of the two strategies included the number of articles edited, number of views of the edited articles (as reach) and the extent of edits, captured as the number of words. The feasibility evaluation included assessing recruitment success and the implementation of the proposed plan among faculty, students from various university programs, and volunteers representing different constituencies. Results The effort increased the availability of quality plain language information on hearing conditions and hearing care. Both strategies demonstrated to be feasible by their success in recruiting participants who contributed to the effort and by measurable outputs as edits. The contribution of content to Wikimedia platforms as part of education activities provided a more robust result. Wiki4WorldHearingDay2023 145 participants (78 from educational programs) contributed 167,000 words, 258 + references and 140 images to 322 Wikipedia articles (283 existing and 39 new ones), which were viewed 16.5 million times. Contributions occurred in six languages. Edits in Portuguese, mainly by those involved in educational programs, led the number of articles (226 or 70.2%) that were expanded or created during the 5-month tracking period. Conclusions The elements that contributed to the success of the studied strategies include an impact topic, coordination with educational programs, international multidisciplinary collaborations, the dissemination of the initiative in several platforms, connection with a robust local Wikimedia affiliate, and the use of a technical infrastructure that provides metrics and coordination mechanisms. Graphical abstract

The methods and result of scientific studies are often difficult to understand for non-specialists due to their esoteric nature. Such lack of understanding means that such work is removed from our normal life experience, and thus, the applicability, interest and use of such work can be minimal. The communication of geoscience finds a natural conduit through geoheritage. A good example of an inaccessible technique far removed from everyday experience is anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS), an extremely useful geoscience technique with many applications, including finding strain and flow directions in rocks. We explored here how to make “AMS” understandable, using three different volcanic sites where the flow of molten rock is an important aspect, each situated in different types of geoheritage visitation context (wild trekkers, beach visitors, and walkers). The method we developed and tested follows the production of simple and adapted explanations, and is coupled with geoheritage inventorying and communication. We utilized the tangible geological features of outcrops, as well as intangible elements such as rock magnetic data, and conducted a geoheritage inventory using the modified geosite assessment model (M-GAM) to create narratives for popular comprehension. The M-GAM analysis has identified the geosites of the San Bartolo lava flow of the Stromboli volcano for the communication of AMS. Later, a simple and comprehensible definition of AMS and thus of the flow processes was created using a step-by-step process. This method could be useful for scientific studies to allow them to reach out to a wider public, using their input in the simple explanation stage to con-construct a narrative. This would provide a way for science to be more widely appreciated, useful and applicable.

In recent years science communication has changed drastically, driven by the rise of social media. To date, there is an enormous amount of content available online that offers potential for informal learning opportunities for school students if it is effectively integrated into their social media habits. In this study – which is part of the Sparkling Science project “We Talk About Science” – we worked with two secondary school classes and analysed on which platforms science communication is perceived and how it is evaluated. Afterwards, the experiences and consumption habits of the students were explored in group interviews. Many students were surprised by the amount of content that is already available on social media, as they had previously consumed hardly any or no science communication. Also, the submitted content was rated highly in terms of its comprehensibility, interest, attractiveness and trustworthiness. However, science communication was not or only barely integrated into their daily social media usage, indicating that the content does not meet their demands yet.

As part of the Citizen Science Awards in Austria, the project “We Talk About Science” explored how students interact with and assess science communication on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok. Over three months in 2023, 21 school classes recorded 3,654 instances of science communication content. The study found significant differences in students’ abilities to critically evaluate this content, influenced by platform type and gender. Instagram posts received lower evaluations, and boys rated posts on Instagram and TikTok more negatively than girls. These findings highlight the need for educational initiatives to improve students’ critical analysis of science communication.

Ghana’s parliament in 2011 passed the Biosafety Act to allow for the application of genetically modified organism (GMO) technology in the country’s agriculture. In a vibrant democracy, there have been extensive media discussions on whether GM crops will benefit or harm citizens. In June 2022, the state GMO regulator, the National Biosafety Authority (NBA), approved the country’s first GM crop (Bt cowpea) for environmental release, declaring the crop does not present an altered environmental risk or a food/feed safety concern. This study identified 3 of the country’s most vibrant digital news outlets and did a content analysis of all GMO stories reported 18 months pre- and post-approval to assess whether the approval changed the focus of GMO issues the media reports on. 91 articles were identified. The results show media reports on the likely impact of GMOs on the country’s food security shot up after the approval. However, media reports on the possible health, sociocultural, and environmental impact of GMOs declined. We observe the media and the public appear interested in deliberations on how the technology could address or worsen food insecurity and urge agricultural biotechnology actors in Ghana to focus on that in their sensitization activities.

The tutelage of our mentors as scientists included the analogy that writing a good scientific paper was an exercise in storytelling that omitted unessential details that did not move the story forward or that detracted from the overall message. However, the advice to not get lost in the details had an important flaw. In science, it is the many details of the data themselves and the methods used to generate and analyze them that give conclusions their probative meaning. Facts may sometimes slow or distract from the clarity, tidiness, intrigue, or flow of the narrative, but nevertheless they are important for the assessment of what was done, the trustworthiness of the science, and the meaning of the findings. Nevertheless, many critical elements and facts about research studies may be omitted from the narrative and become hidden from scholarly scrutiny. We describe a "baker's dozen" shortfalls in which such elements that are pertinent to evaluating the validity of scientific studies are sometimes hidden in reports of the work. Such shortfalls may be intentional or unintentional or lie somewhere in between. Additionally, shortfalls may occur at the level of the individual or an institution or of the entire system itself. We conclude by proposing countermeasures to these shortfalls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has demonstrated its ability to undertake writing tasks, including automated journalism. Prior studies suggest no differences between human and AI authors regarding perceived message credibility. However, research on people’s perceptions of AI authorship on complex topics is lacking. In a between-groups experiment (N = 734), we examined the effect of labeled authorship on credibility perceptions of a GPT-written science journalism article. The results of an equivalence test showed that labeling a text as AI-written vs. human-written reduced perceived message credibility (d = 0.36). Moreover, AI authorship decreased perceived source credibility (d = 0.24), anthropomorphism (d = 0.67), and intelligence (d = 0.41). The findings are discussed against the backdrop of a growing availability of AI-generated content and a greater awareness of AI authorship.