The way science and society interact is constantly evolving and new opportunities for dialogue and collaboration continuously emerge. At the same time, science-informed decisions are gaining momentum in advanced democracies. In this scenario, citizen science initiatives (CSIs) can become a key enabler. Following bottom-up methodologies, citizens can contribute as data generators to co-researchers as well as science communicators, becoming the primary source for science-related news. CS is thus changing the paradigm of science communication. However, the potential to integrate CS as a tool in science communication still needs to be unleashed, so that CS can reach its full potential as a participatory and democratic science communication model, aligning science and society needs, goals and expectations, promoting mutual understanding and trust.
The overall aim of NEWSERA was to demonstrate the virtues of CS as an inclusive, broad and powerful science communication mechanism that increases trust in science communication and, in turn, in science at large, while opening up science and innovation to society, raising awareness and educating in science, and reducing the chances of incurring in fake news, by promoting critical thinking.
NEWSERA analyzed and evaluated the effectiveness and perception of complex and multidirectional science communication strategies, including digital and non-digital ones, addressed to and co-designed with quadruple helix stakeholders (citizen scientists, academic scientists, policy makers and public sector, industry and SMEs) and science and data journalists, in 39 CSIs, the NEWSERA pilots, tested under the citizen science communication labs, #CitSciComm Labs.
Different strategies, including tools, channels, formats, used to address 4-helix stakeholders and science journalists, were validated and compiled on the NEWSERA Blueprints, as well as motivations, barriers and mitigation strategies, and finally, recommendations to efficiently engage with quadruple helix stakeholders and science and data journalists for wider impact and ensure replicability of the NEWSERA findings.
The NEWSERA Project, through its co-design methodology applied within the #CitSciComm Labs demonstrated the potential of CS as the new paradigm of science communication, building newsable stories with societal relevance through data journalism, and contributing to tackle misinformation.
