Associate Professors Anne Dijkstra (BMS) and Heather Handley (ITC) have founded the Science Communication Club (SCC). Dijkstra explains the concept: 'SCC is a forum in which scientists learn from each other what works best when it comes to communicating with non-academics about their field of expertise. Two participants per meeting will give a presentation on how they have drawn attention to a certain theme, and what the effects were. We then discuss it centrally. It isn’t a presentation training, but an exchange of ideas.'
She explains why this is necessary: 'Sometimes, scientists have tunnel vision when it comes to their expertise. They are highly specialised in their field, but their audience often isn’t and doesn’t readily understand their references or jargon. So they shouldn’t just send information, but also help their audience understand.'
Soapbox
According to her, the SCC is an important initiative to maintain support for the UT and science in general within the country. 'In recent years, we’ve seen a rise in doubts about the importance of science for society. That's why we must get on that soapbox a lot more ourselves. That’s not always in our nature as scientists, but it is necessary to show that what we do is important.'
Building a relationship
According to Dijkstra, scientists should help battle misinformation and disinformation. 'Many scientists think that everything will be fine if they just keep repeating the facts when asked. But we must put ourselves out there, more than before. Building rapport with an audience is important, too. These can be both civilians and politicians, and the latter do not always make decisions based on pure facts alone. So it's essential to bear in mind that it’s not just what you say, but also how you say it.'
As an example of science communication, she mentions her own Science Café in Deventer, an accessible, small-scale event in which scientists talk about their research in a small theatre. She says visitor numbers average around 120 per evening. 'A special Science Café Noir edition was completely sold out with about 250 participants.'
Earning college credit
She also thinks that science communication shouldn’t fall on the shoulders of the usual suspects, but that every scientist can do their bit. To make sure that PhD candidates get involved as well, Dijkstra and Handley have arranged that they can earn 0.5 EC if they participate in five meetings.
'We’ve come to rely on seeing a number of better-known professors in the media all the time. But new scientists could for instance reach out to their old schools, for example. Or actively involve local people in their research and have those collect data,' explains Dijkstra. As an example of this type of Citizen Science, she mentions a groundwater measurement project in Enschede a few years ago.
Audience of scientists
The intended audience of the SCC is the scientists themselves, Dijkstra says. 'We have already received questions about whether it was also accessible to the public. I like that people are enthusiastic, of course, but you won’t hear anything about ongoing research at SCC. It's really about exchanging ideas to reach and involve the public.'
She adds: 'For those interested in science, we regularly organise Science Cafés in Deventer and Enschede in which scientists present their research in an accessible way. Those stages are excellent for that.'
The first meeting
The first Science Communication Club meeting is scheduled to take place on Thursday 13 March between half past 1 and half past 2 in in DesignLab's Conceptualise room. The SCC is planned to come together once every six or seven weeks. More information can be found on the SCC website.
