Disinformation and uncertainty are central themes of the annual meeting of science communicators in Portugal

The program includes two plenary sessions: one on the relationship between science and society and another on the #CoronaVirusFacts alliance and the role of science and fact-checking in the fight against misinformation

With the theme "Old challenges, new threats: communicating uncertainty and fighting misinformation", the 9th edition of SciComPt Annual Science Communication Congress takes place between the 23rd and 25th of June, completely online, and registration is already open, until June 18, here.

The congress will focus on the search for strategies to combat misinformation and on the discussion of the difficulties faced in communicating uncertainty – themes that are not new to communication professionals, but which have assumed an unavoidable importance in the last year in the context of the pandemic of Covid-19.

In addition to constituting a forum for discussion and sharing of knowledge and good practices among research professionals – researchers and practitioners -, the congress is also open to all those interested in the area.

The congress will be completely online, exploring the potential offered by this format through a diversified program, capable of enhancing the cuisine direct and informal contact between participants and, at the same time, highlight the moments of public presentation of our speakers.

As Vera Novais, president of the SciComPt Network underlines, “there are aspects of a face-to-face meeting that we know we cannot replace, but the online congress will allow us to broaden our spectrum of participants, who will not have to worry about travel, accommodation or with time constraints”.

Basically, he adds, “what we want is also to reach out to science communicators in Portuguese-speaking countries, to Portuguese people around the world and to those who, being in Portugal, have difficulty moving to an initiative of two or three days”.

The program of this edition includes two plenary sessions: one on the relationship between science and society, with Sarah R. Davies, author of several studies on the relationship between science and society; and another on the #CoronaVirusFacts alliance and the role of science and fact-checking in the fight against misinformation, with Cristina Tardáguila, founder of Agência Lupa, the first news agency specializing in fact-checking of Brazil.

There are also two debate sessions on the communication of uncertainty in journalism and social networks as a non-institutional communication tool, with several specialists in these themes.

Over the three days there will also be space for presentations of work, networking, where participants can interact in a “Speed ​​dating”, space for demonstrations in an exhibition area specially dedicated for this purpose and various other moments of interaction and sharing between participants.

Proposal submission is open until April 23 and the registration until June 18.

SciComPt is an association that was born in 2014 from the science communicators initiative, to serve the community that works in the field of science communication.

With members in the autonomous regions and from north to south of the country, who are fully dedicated to science communication or do it as a parallel activity, and including communicators from communication offices, science museums, journalism, etc., SciComPt is representative of a heterogeneous, multidisciplinary and dynamic community.

Its objectives are to promote science communication in all its aspects, to promote exchange between science communication professionals and to promote the informed participation of citizens in all matters involving Science and Technology.

The main exponent of this mission is the holding of its annual congress, which has been held since 2013 — even before a group of enthusiasts in the area formalized the association — in various cities across the country.

Over the years, SciComPt has sought to extend the congress to international participants, such as Spanish communicators and science journalists, and, this year, also to colleagues in Brazil and other Portuguese-speaking countries. Information about previous congresses available here.

 
 



Comments

Ads