PCST Venice Symposium, September 28-30, 2023
At the Symposium in September, a Concluding Statement was issued to draw attention to the need for research and academic institutions to consider the strategic value of public communication of science, and to mobilize support for these activities.
The Statement highlights the multitude of benefits that investments in science communication can yield, including benefits to society (combating misinformation, making science accessible, equipping citizens to access the public debate on science), benefits to institutions (building reputation, increasing students’ employability, and becoming known as engaged and responsive civic institutions), benefits to research and researchers (offering new work perspectives, improved visibility, to be effective across disciplines, and helping to recruit new collaborators).
The participation of leading research and funding institutions as the European Research Council, CERN, Swedish Research Council, Japanese RISTEX, SAPEA, ETH and many others, animated a vigorous and very fruitful interaction both in plenary sessions and in working groups with professionals and scholars from all over the world. At the center of the debate was the role that academic and research institutions have in promoting quality science communication.
‘Science Communication Education and Training: Challenges and Strategies for Research and Academic Institutions’ was the title of the international Symposium jointly promoted by VIU and the global network Public Communication of Science and Technology (PCST).
