Open Science

What is Science Communication?

Science Communication aims to spread scientific results and knowledge to a wide range of audiences through a multitude of channels adhering to the principles of open and equitable access.

Compared to scientific communication, science communication informs, educates and raises awareness of your research to the general public and non-expert audience. Such audience includes general society, policymakers and industry.

Science communication formats are various. You can use social media to spread your results, contribute to non-scientific newspaper, magazines and books and participate on science communication events (e.g. Pint of Science or Science Slams).

What are the benefits for you?

• Increasing the impact of your results
• Having an impact on policy makers
• Increasing societal awareness
• Influencing the ideas of society
• Increasing trust in high quality research

Requirements

• Identify the audience, your target group
• Get familiar with different language styles – talking to pupils needs a different language than to policymakers
• Get familiar with social media channels and their functionalities and target groups
• Build and take care of your community and networks
• Be brave and active in talking on events
• Some research funding organisations want you to incorporate a Science Communication strategy

Resources

• American Association for the Advancement of Science – Communication Toolkit
• American Association for the Advancement of Science – Mini Workshops (Videos)
• SciComm4All – Training materials
• EuroScitizen – Training materials 
• Strauß, Helene; Rücknagel, Jesko; Hauss, Jonas: Science communication and the publishing process. open-access.network, Technische Informationsbibliothek (TIB), 2022