This summer, our POIESIS engagement activities have made significant process! We have had the privilege of interviewing 119 (at least 16 in each consortium country) institutional and non-institutional science communication actors as well as researchers on COVID-19 and climate change. The purpose was to gain a deeper understanding of the following questions:
Results showed that most researchers and communication experts consider that research ethics and integrity issues in the conduct of science do not have a significant impact on public trust, while the further integration of citizens in science is indeed important to maintain and reinforce it.
The importance of institutions was also highlighted, but the general levels of trust in authorities and public institutions vary between countries and this can certainly affect public trust in science. A culture of public trust can be created by increasing participative structures, mechanisms, and opportunities, but social integration can only complement and enhance a sound, well resourced, societal-level institutional communication strategy, which is needed.
Science communication was “put to the test” during the COVID-19 pandemic and placed Mediators and Researchers under pressure to communicate amidst a chaotic churn of ‘fake news’, deliberate and malicious misinformation, and ill-informed speculation. Researchers are willing to engage in communication and dissemination efforts, but they consider a more systematic and well-resourced approach to communication at the organizational level to be essential for those efforts to have an impact.
To read all the insights and recommendations gained from these interviews, download the D2.3: Expert Interviews – Findings report here