ENJOI contribution to the Concluding Statement of the PCST Venice Symposium 2023

At the end of September, scholars, practitioners, science writers, and science communicators from around the world met in Venice for the PCST Venice Symposium 2023, a gathering hosted on San Servolo island by the Venice International University.

ENJOI project participated in the event and contributed to the discussion, presenting some of its major results. We have already written about one of the most interesting streams of debate in Venice in a recent post about the importance of conversation in science communication.

During the symposium, participants were divided into different working groups. The synthesis of that effort has now been summarized in an official concluding statement entitled Science Communication Education and Training: Challenges and Strategies for Research and Academic Institutions.

The document starts by underlining how investing in science communication is beneficial for all parties involved:

• Society, as science communication contributes to fighting disinformation and fake news;
• Research institutions, as it means building a public reputation and at the same time fostering the dialogue with civic institutions;
• Research and researchers, as it improves visibility among funders and policymakers, as well as contributes to bridging the gap between disciplines.

From ENJOI's perspective, intensely focused on the role of engagement in the science communication and science journalism process, the Concluding Statement provides a view on the role that fostering communication by the research community could play. In particular, as can be read in the document:

"Recognition and incentives for researchers to communicate and engage

• Highlight the value of science communication and engagement in institutional policies, including in criteria for career advancement and promotion.
• Encourage, support and fund researchers to participate and reward exceptional public engagement efforts.
• Support networks and collaborations that facilitate the sharing of resources, training, opportunities and best practices in public science communication and engagement".

All of these points are important. But from the ENJOI consortium, the stress on engagement brings the necessity to reflect more on what groups of people are involved in science communication. There could not be a proper conversation between all parts of society, research institutions and science communication communities if some groups are left out based on gender, cultural background, provenance or other minoritizing factors. The focus on inclusion is one of the main take-home messages that ENJOI is bringing to the discussion, and this is a crucial point many of the social groups involved in the project see as key.

Here you can find the Concluding Statement in its entirety.

Featured image by fauxels: Ralph, ai artist, pixexid.com