Periodic Reporting for period 2 - GlobalSCAPE (Global Science Communication and Perception)
Reporting period: 2021-12-01 to 2023-02-28
Science communication is a global field of research and practice, central to the relationship between science and society. While recent large-scale studies of science communication have focused on European and Western contexts, the EU-funded GlobalSCAPE project contributes to a more comprehensive picture of science communication by focusing on science communication professionals working in non-Western countries and in regions where science communication can be challenging or under-valued.
The principal aim of GlobalSCAPE was to generate a detailed picture of science communication in a global context.
The project implemented a programme of electronically-facilitated diary studies to determine the challenges and opportunities faced by science communication professionals as they navigate a rapidly changing field. This was critical to (taking stock of) the relationship between science and society as a deeper understanding of how science communication happens in different geographical, cultural, and political contexts will foster collaboration and support global efforts to democratise science. Those perspectives and variations have been gathered in an open-access dataset, providing a powerful tool for analysis.
The landscape and modes of science communication are changing. This is, in large measure, the result of advances in digital communication in combination with ready and widespread access to smart devices. In its methodology, GlobalSCAPE built on the very technologies that are changing this landscape. It exploited the global ubiquity of smart devices to implement an innovative and large-scale programme of data collection through the use of state-of-the-art methods in automated diary studies and drew on the expertise of a multi-disciplinary and international team of partners.
GlobalSCAPE fostered knowledge sharing on a global level across the science communication field, through training workshops, publication opportunities and the development of open-access resources. The incorporation of diverse viewpoints from around the world was a key component in this work, made achievable from the vast network engaged.
The GlobalSCAPE project has:
1. Presented a more complete and fine-grained picture of global science communication
2. Mapped that picture over time to identify shifts in priorities and incentives/disincentives
3. Innovated a new and ambitious methodology to measure and assess science communication
4. Maximised the resources of SwafS-19 to support the work of science communicators where it is most needed
The principal aim of GlobalSCAPE was to generate a detailed picture of science communication in a global context.
The project implemented a programme of electronically-facilitated diary studies to determine the challenges and opportunities faced by science communication professionals as they navigate a rapidly changing field. This was critical to (taking stock of) the relationship between science and society as a deeper understanding of how science communication happens in different geographical, cultural, and political contexts will foster collaboration and support global efforts to democratise science. Those perspectives and variations have been gathered in an open-access dataset, providing a powerful tool for analysis.
The landscape and modes of science communication are changing. This is, in large measure, the result of advances in digital communication in combination with ready and widespread access to smart devices. In its methodology, GlobalSCAPE built on the very technologies that are changing this landscape. It exploited the global ubiquity of smart devices to implement an innovative and large-scale programme of data collection through the use of state-of-the-art methods in automated diary studies and drew on the expertise of a multi-disciplinary and international team of partners.
GlobalSCAPE fostered knowledge sharing on a global level across the science communication field, through training workshops, publication opportunities and the development of open-access resources. The incorporation of diverse viewpoints from around the world was a key component in this work, made achievable from the vast network engaged.
The GlobalSCAPE project has:
1. Presented a more complete and fine-grained picture of global science communication
2. Mapped that picture over time to identify shifts in priorities and incentives/disincentives
3. Innovated a new and ambitious methodology to measure and assess science communication
4. Maximised the resources of SwafS-19 to support the work of science communicators where it is most needed
Substantial work and achievements have been implemented throughout the second reporting period of the GlobalSCAPE project, and are summarised below.
The consortium worked continuously to follow the communications, dissemination and exploitation strategy laid out in the first reporting period. Throughout the lifetime of the project, a number of conference presentations and three publications have been achieved.
In putting structures in place, and directly addressing 1, 2, and 3 of the 4 central project aims that are listed above, a GlobalSCAPE network was established, and led to an unprecedented level of uptake of the diary study across a wide breadth of countries and professions. The diary study was completed after one year, and the results will soon be made available in the form of an open-access dataset.
Retaining continuous focus on global representation, the GlobalSCAPE Advisory Board continued to provide their expertise surrounding science communication in different contexts.
In addressing aim 4 (above), training workshops have been implemented across the world, both online and in-person, with mobility schemes being offered to participants who did not have funding to attend the workshops. Resources related to the evidence-based workshops are now available on zenodo. In embedding the findings of GlobalSCAPE into education, and in addressing the needs of science communicators within education, a global science communication module has been designed and has received institutional endorsement at Trinity College Dublin. Students have taken part in the module and provided feedback for future iterations. On top of this, GlobalSCAPE collaborated with the Public Communication of Science and Technology (PCST) Network to support the building of a worldwide database identifying the various courses and programmes on offer in higher education on science communication, and the development of a Special Issue in the Journal for Science Communication focusing on science communication teaching in higher education.
Informed by co-creation sessions held with stakeholders, a GlobalSCAPE white paper was developed to inform policy makers and funding bodies of the support required to improve the current landscape of science communication. This white paper has been translated into the nine major languages of the world to promote uptake on a global level.
The consortium worked continuously to follow the communications, dissemination and exploitation strategy laid out in the first reporting period. Throughout the lifetime of the project, a number of conference presentations and three publications have been achieved.
In putting structures in place, and directly addressing 1, 2, and 3 of the 4 central project aims that are listed above, a GlobalSCAPE network was established, and led to an unprecedented level of uptake of the diary study across a wide breadth of countries and professions. The diary study was completed after one year, and the results will soon be made available in the form of an open-access dataset.
Retaining continuous focus on global representation, the GlobalSCAPE Advisory Board continued to provide their expertise surrounding science communication in different contexts.
In addressing aim 4 (above), training workshops have been implemented across the world, both online and in-person, with mobility schemes being offered to participants who did not have funding to attend the workshops. Resources related to the evidence-based workshops are now available on zenodo. In embedding the findings of GlobalSCAPE into education, and in addressing the needs of science communicators within education, a global science communication module has been designed and has received institutional endorsement at Trinity College Dublin. Students have taken part in the module and provided feedback for future iterations. On top of this, GlobalSCAPE collaborated with the Public Communication of Science and Technology (PCST) Network to support the building of a worldwide database identifying the various courses and programmes on offer in higher education on science communication, and the development of a Special Issue in the Journal for Science Communication focusing on science communication teaching in higher education.
Informed by co-creation sessions held with stakeholders, a GlobalSCAPE white paper was developed to inform policy makers and funding bodies of the support required to improve the current landscape of science communication. This white paper has been translated into the nine major languages of the world to promote uptake on a global level.
GlobalSCAPE has advanced beyond the state of the art in its scope and in its methodology. Structures and networks to achieve this were instigated, refined and launched in the first half of the project. In furtherance of this, in the second half of the project, GlobalSCAPE built on these structures to expand its reach, and to integrate findings as they emerged from the diary study.
The project mapped the state of play in global science communication, gathering data utilising the research instrument and methodology that was developed and refined by the consortium. Quantitative and qualitative analyses were conducted on the data, and the dataset will be made available as an open access resource for others to avail of.
The successful recruitment drive expanded uptake on the diary study to maximise global reach. The academic module was expanded from its initial design and taught as a module in Trinity College Dublin, embedding global practices and perspectives.
The Special Issue of the Journal of Science Communication (JCOM) will promote the sharing of expertise surrounding the teaching of science communication in higher education. The worldwide database of science communication programmes and courses in higher education, developed with PCST, highlights Europe’s contribution to the field while spotlighting valuable training opportunities available on a global scale. Both outputs, which were not originally foreseen in the plan of action, further define science communication as an academic discipline in its own right.
Findings from the data were also integrated into an open access white paper designed for both policy-makers and stakeholders, to help inform European policy in science communication, and to inform proactive and anticipatory policy-making.
The project mapped the state of play in global science communication, gathering data utilising the research instrument and methodology that was developed and refined by the consortium. Quantitative and qualitative analyses were conducted on the data, and the dataset will be made available as an open access resource for others to avail of.
The successful recruitment drive expanded uptake on the diary study to maximise global reach. The academic module was expanded from its initial design and taught as a module in Trinity College Dublin, embedding global practices and perspectives.
The Special Issue of the Journal of Science Communication (JCOM) will promote the sharing of expertise surrounding the teaching of science communication in higher education. The worldwide database of science communication programmes and courses in higher education, developed with PCST, highlights Europe’s contribution to the field while spotlighting valuable training opportunities available on a global scale. Both outputs, which were not originally foreseen in the plan of action, further define science communication as an academic discipline in its own right.
Findings from the data were also integrated into an open access white paper designed for both policy-makers and stakeholders, to help inform European policy in science communication, and to inform proactive and anticipatory policy-making.