Faciliator: Cissi Askwall
Anouk de Jong, University of Twente, Netherlands and Anne M. Dijkstra, University of Twente, Netherlands
The impact of AI on the quality of science journalism: views from journalists
We explored how AI advancements, like ChatGPT, may influence science journalism quality by interviewing 16 journalists across Italy, Portugal, Spain, and Belgium in May 2023. Despite facing funding and time constraints, journalists employed various strategies to maintain quality, seeking feedback from peers or editors. While many covered AI topics and used AI tools for tasks like transcription, they hadn’t observed negative impacts on their work. Perceived benefits include AI streamlining repetitive tasks and enhancing accessibility and impact. However, concerns exist about AI’s potential to diminish the role of science journalists and compromise reporting rigor. This talk sheds light on the perspectives of Southern European journalists, offering insights into the challenges of delivering quality reporting on AI developments and adapting to AI’s influence on their profession.
Fergus McAuliffe, University College Dublin, Ireland
Inception Horizon: a case study in the science communication of groundwater through song
Creative collaborations between science and the arts offer powerful avenues for informal science learning, particularly for engaging new audiences. “Inception Horizon” exemplifies this approach, blending groundwater and earth science with music, performance, and film. Over three years, involving a community choir and a composer, the project produced an original musical piece performed both above ground and in a cave, accompanied by a short film. Evaluation revealed significant increases in understanding of karst and confidence in Earth Science among attendees. This talk will explore the journey of co-creating this immersive science engagement experience. It will emphasize the importance of tailored approaches to public engagement with climate science, highlighting the role of creative and cultural sectors in fostering dialogue, understanding, and personal connection to the changing Earth system through music and song.
Theodore Anagnostopoulos, Science Communication, Greece
STEM4Equality | Combating gender stereotypes in early school age through STEM
STEM4Equality addresses the gender gap in STEM careers by targeting early education. Through specially designed materials and teacher training, the project aims to challenge and prevent gender stereotypes in kindergarten and elementary schools. By intervening at an early age, STEM4Equality promotes life skills and healthy relationship building. The talk raises awareness about gender biases in Europe and highlights how STEM education combats these stereotypes. The program’s innovation lies in targeting preschool ages, where stereotypes are less evident according to research.
Edward Duca, University of Malta, Malta and Emma Clarke, University of Malta, Malta
Characterising a highly urbanised town to support participatory public engagement
In collaboration with the Gzira Local Council, the University of Malta characterized the urbanized town of Gzira to plan Nature-Based Solution (NBS) implementations and participatory public engagement processes. Through door-to-door surveys, demographic, health, income, and mobility data were collected to identify residents willing to install air pollution sensors, aiding in mitigating pollution levels. Temporary NBS measures were then implemented to foster community and cultural interaction through Sci Comm activities. The talk “Characterising an Urbanized Town for Public Engagement” discusses the research’s role in understanding public perceptions of NBS and addressing challenges such as lack of community and positive perception. The session highlights how research tools, coupled with science communication, support participatory engagement and citizen science, providing insights for implementation in other contexts.