A European competence centre for science communication

Science communication is a scientific discipline, an activity conducted by career scientists and science outreach organisations, and a specific career pathway followed by journalists. It has the potential to improve science-society relations by increasing the transparency of science, building trust in the processes and outcomes of science, and raising scientific literacy. It can also improve the uptake of science by society and support evidence-based policy making.

Science and science communication have been undergoing radical changes over recent years, creating opportunities that may, in turn, pose new challenges. For instance, traditional media are increasingly being superseded by social media with more user-edited content; rapid diffusion of open access or pre-peer review papers gives the general public access to research that was previously locked behind paywalls; and open data enable a wider set of actors to interact with, analyse and interpret research results than in the past.

The covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of communicating scientific knowledge and recommendations to respond to a fast-moving and critical threat. It is important to learn from this and other experiences when science communication has been essential to conveying scientific knowledge and recommendations on critical issues, to explaining how hypotheses, experiments and uncertainties are also part of the scientific method, to build capacities and strengthen networks, and to ensure greater ability in the future to react rapidly and effectively to critical situations.

This action has two parts, both of which must be addressed:

The first part consists of consolidating the evidence base on science communication from on-going and past projects and initiatives[[In particular, but not limited to, projects supported by Horizon 2020’s SwafS-19-2018-2019-2020 topic, but other relevant projects and initiatives within and outside the Framework Programmes should also be considered.]], covering a wide range of existing and potential critical areas for research and innovation for society. Particular attention should be paid to contextual issues (geography, gender, age, socio-economic status, etc.) that affect the uptake or effectiveness of science communication. Policy reports and recommendations, guidelines, and innovative strategies should be developed for all research and innovation actor types; potential targets should include government agencies and public authorities, research funding and performing organisations, and civil society organisations. An important outcome should be the publication of one or more user-friendly handbook(s) for effective science communication, backed by an interactive and pedagogical online toolkit, for use by Horizon Europe projects. This part should involve all parts of the quadruple helix[[A model of cooperation between industry, academia, civil society and public authorities, with a strong emphasis on citizens and their needs.]] in co-creation activities, to ensure that the outcomes are usable in different contexts, for different purposes, and by different research and innovation actors; considerable efforts to disseminate the findings across the European Research Area should be undertaken.

The second part will consist of establishing a centre of knowledge, expertise, advice, resources, and tools on science communication in the European Research Area. It should link to - and support - existing communities of knowledge and practice, with the goal of improving co-ordination and mutual learning between them. It should support potential user groups including R&I projects, public authorities, government agencies, the private sector, and civil society organisations, to improve and initiate trusted and impactful science communication. An important element will be preparing the European Research Area to react quickly to situations requiring science communication, and the ability to provide rapid advice and support, as required. The centre should work towards the sustainability of its activities beyond the lifetime of funding, including through the provision of a basket of services and other activities that have market value; a business plan should therefore be elaborated from the very earliest stages of the project.

The action should build on the knowledge, networks and capacities developed by Horizon 2020[[Including topic SwafS-19-2018-2019-2020.]] and by national and regional initiatives and work closely with relevant projects. A minimum project duration of 4 years should be envisaged.