Public Engagement for Sustainability, biodiversity and climate action: what’s the value of local solutions in addressing global challenges?
Sheila Donegan, Eoin Gill and Nollaig Healy, Calmast, South East Technological University
In recent years, there is growing urgency about the biodiversity crisis and climate change. Science engagement has been very successful in raising awareness although, awareness hasn’t converted sufficiently into action. Meanwhile others have been successful in sowing misinformation and growing confusion.
This session draws on over twenty years’ experience with various programmes exploring sustainability, biodiversity and climate action. These include a long running biodiversity and environment festival, a creative programme matching artists and communities with climate action themes and STEAM projects where young people express their concerns through spoken word. Experiences with workshops and events and efforts to include sustainability in all other STEM events will also be considered.
The result of these 2 decades work? We have been unsuccessful! We haven’t arrested climate change or stopped biodiversity loss. What have we achieved?
This presentation will review these experiences through the lens of science event organisers and the lens of public engagement. Serious questions will be posed about audiences, fragmentation of efforts, clarity of messages, and routes to action. What is the role of these local solutions in navigating global challenges? Can we find a meaningful way forward for the Eusea community?
Setting sails for connection – Navigating stakeholder engagement in communication
Mariam González Debs, INL – International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory
Engaging stakeholders in science communication is increasingly challenging amidst the overwhelming flood of information vying for attention. Our experience shows that impactful communication stems from two key elements: delivering a desired outcome aligned with audience expectations and evoking relatable emotions. Building on these principles, we explored how to curate scientific information to elicit specific emotional responses that drive engagement, collaboration, and action. As our organisation expanded, scattered and inconsistent communication emerged as a challenge. This session will detail how we implemented a clustering system to integrate these engagement principles into our daily workflows, fostering coherence and collaboration among scientists. This system then facilitated the diverse communication activities, ensuring alignment with the research goals. We’ll also share insights on identifying shareable content, crafting messages that spark curiosity or surprise, and tailoring communication to resonate culturally. Join us to uncover strategies for transforming science communication into a powerful tool for connection, helping you set a steady course toward meaningful impact.