This CONCISE database presents examples that may serve as an inspiration to solve the barriers that researchers and professional communicators face when engaging in science communication.
The table here and the report are not an exhaustive list of practices. The value of this database resides in providing case studies and possible solutions to the main barriers identified to engage in science communication. Selection criteria are:
- Diversity: Solutions are proposed taking into account both geographic and target audience heterogeneity.
- Originality: Each category includes five different solutions to promote scientific communication.
- In operation: The selected cases offer solutions that are currently being carried out.
- Information availability
In the full report “Database of inspiring practices and recommendations on engaging scientists and communicators with science communication” it is detailed the framework in which this database has been prepared, its objectives and the methodology (Link).
Complementary information: our sister project Quest has also interesting information about training in science communication (Link: https://questproject.eu/where-are-science-communication-courses-in-europe/)
| Title | Brief description | Country | Target audience | Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prêmio José Reis de Divulgação Científica e Tecnológica | Award granted annually by the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development to the institution, communication company (newspaper, magazine, television station, etc.) or individual, researcher or journalist, who has most contributed to the dissemination of science and technology in Brazil. | Brazil | Journalists, researchers, communication companies, Research institutions | Awards |
| European Science Writers Award | Award to editors and writers for their achievements for the promotion of science journalism in Europe since 2001. The senior prize so called “Award for Lifetime Achievements” and the two “Junior” prizes were awarded every two years at the EuroScience Open Forum (ESOF). | European Union countries | Science editors and writers | Awards |
| FameLab | Famelab is an international contest of scientific monologues. Its main objective is to promote the popularization of science by identifying, training and publicizing new talents, new spokespersons for science through an innovative format, the science monologue. | International | Researchers, journalists, scholars | Awards |
| Premio Boehringer Ingelheim al Periodismo en Medicina | Journalistic awards with the aim of promoting and recognizing the work of journalists and the media in disseminating and bringing public opinion closer to the advances that are taking place in the field of medicine and health. | Spain | Journalists | Awards |
| Sentinel Awards | Awards to recognize exemplary achievements in TV storylines that inform, educate and motivate viewers to make choices for healthier and safer lives. | USA | TV shows | Awards |
| CSIRO | Science communication skills included as a criterion for recruitment and career promotion in science and engineering research positions. | Australia | Researchers | Career progression |
| EU-LIFE | Science communication activities used to evaluate candidates recruitment and career promotion in all EU-LIFE institutes. | European countries | Researchers | Career progression |
| Conferencia de Rectores de las Universidades Españolas | Assessment guide with specific criteria for science communication activities of university research staff proposed by the Conference of Rectors of Spanish Universities (Conferencia de Rectores de las Universidades Españolas). | Spain | Researchers | Career progression |
| University of Wisconsin - Madison | Science communication, outreach and public engagement activities included in the criterion for tenure promotion of research staff of the University of Wisconsin - Madison. | USA | Researchers | Career progression |
| University of Birmingham | Science communication skills included as a criterion for recruitment to research staff positions. | UK | Researchers | Career progression |
| International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis Science Communication Fellowship | The IIASA Science Communication Fellowship, established in 2016, provides the opportunity for one to two early-career science communicators to gain hands-on experience in the IIASA Communications Department each summer. | Austria | Graduate students | Fellowship |
| Knight Science Journalism Program at MIT | A nine-month fellowship program that brings together a small group of elite journalists from across the globe for two semesters of study, intellectual growth, and exploration at MIT, Harvard, and other institutions in Cambridge and greater Boston. | International | Science journalists | Fellowship |
| Erice International School of Scientific Journalism | The School is based on lectures, interactive sessions and other activities held by international experts in the fields of science, journalism and communication, and encourages a lively discussion on how to communicate scientific results in different ways and through different media. | International | Early career science journalists, science communicators, students | Fellowship |
| British Science Association Media Fellows | The British Science Association Media Fellowships provide a unique opportunity for practicing scientists, clinicians and engineers to spend two to six weeks working at the heart of a media outlet such as the Guardian, BBC Breakfast or the Londonist. | UK | Scientists, clinicians and engineers | Fellowship |
| Science News Internship | Science News, the award-winning magazine covering all fields of science for a general readership, is now accepting applications for its science writing internships. Interns work as full-time science writers under the guidance of Science News editors and writers. Internships are offered in fall, spring and summer each year. | USA | Journalism students | Fellowship |
| European Commission | Demand for communication, dissemination and promotion of European Commission funded projects | European Union countries | Researchers | Funding |
| Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia | Since 2016, Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology funded projects must include a dissemination plan with a dedicated item in the budget. In some calls the dissemination costs have to be at least 15% of the total budget. | Portugal | Researchers | Funding |
| Fundación Española para la Ciencia y la Tecnología | Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology open yearly specific funding calls devoted to science dissemination and communication projects | Spain | Researchers and science communication professionals | Funding |
| Swiss National Science Foundation | The Swiss National Science Foundation funds specific projects to foster dialogue between scientists and society. It encourages researchers to communicate their current research to an audience of lay people. | Switzerland | Researchers | Funding |
| Network of funders | The Rita Allen foundation built in 2017 a network of funders who recognize and support the need to invest in productive public engagement with evidence-based science communication. | USA | Science communication professionals | Funding |
| Master Information et médiation scientifique et technique (IMST) | Master program offered by the Université Bordeaux Montaigne that aims to study science, its discourse, its concepts, its relations with society, in its historical, philosophical, sociological, ethical and communicative dimensions. | France | Graduate students | Training |
| Science communication and Bionics | Bachelor program on linking communication practice with rigorous research methodologies offered by the Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences | Gemany | Undergraduate students | Training |
| Master in Science Education | Master program offered by the Trinity College Dublin to give students the academic and practical skills they need to develop a critical understanding of the role of science education, research and communication in society. | Ireland | Graduate students | Training |
| Máster en comunicación científica, médica y ambiental | Stellenbosch University offers a Master program in the field of science and technology studies, with a specialisation in science and public engagement. The course content focuses on challenges associated with the communication between science, public audiences and stakeholder groups in society, with a special focus on Africa. | South Africa | Graduate students | Training |
| Máster en comunicación científica, médica y ambiental | Master program offered by the Universitat Pompeu Fabra - Barcelona School of Management. This course combines theory and practice to provide students with the skills and critical thinking necessary to meet current job demands in all aspects of scientific, medical, and environmental communication. | Spain | Graduate students | Training |