The SciCommer Newsletter: 8 July

Welcome to this weeks round-up of science communication news, events and jobs. The cost for a subscription is about the same price as one coffee per month. If you want to offer more, then you can. You can also take out a paid group subscription for a subscriber discount. If you want to send a one-off thanks then you can ‘buy me a coffee’.

Do you have something to share? Unfortunately the newsletter would just be too long to include examples of science communication projects or events - but if you write up what others can learn from a science communication initative or event then I can include that.

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📰 In the News

Read the SciCommer news and events in Spanish, Portuguese and German.

When scientists are targeted, what helps? Institutions often applaud public engagement, until the backlash begins. Then what? Read more from Wissenschaftskommunikation.de.

‘We need social science as much as STEM in policymaking’ from the LSE Impact Blog

From AAAS ‘When “Opposite” Scientific Findings Collide’ - how best to handle this for the public?

Issue 22 of Consilience is now open for submissions! This issue of the science and poetry journal will explores the scientific topic of ‘Waves’.

From SciComm Bites ‘The science of standing up for science: What motivated thousands to march in 2017’

‘Maybe stop victim blaming government science communicators?’ From Christian Elliott

For effective science communication, 'just the facts' isn't good enough, say scholars on Phys.org (read the original paper in the research section below)

The Royal Academy of Engineering (UK) Ingenious public engagement grants scheme is now open for applications. Ingenious prioritises UK projects that reach diverse and underrepresented audiences in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

UK Based? Apply for funding to lead engaging the public with Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) supported science, technology or facilities.

Three tips for talking to a vaccine sceptic

New Research

An agenda for science communication research and practice. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2025 Jul 8;122(27):e2400932122.Epub 2025 Jun 30. PMID: 40587793.

A Proposed Framework for Considering “Inclusive Science Communication” in Theory and Practice. Science Communication, 0(0).

Scientific Reliance on AI may Reflect Broader Failures in Science Communication. Science Communication, 0(0).

A new dimension of simplified science communication: the easiness effect of science popularization in animated video abstracts. Frontiers in Psychology. Volume 16 - 20255

Practical rationales for art-science in science communication. International Journal of Science Education, Part B, 1–14.

Transformative community-engaged science: Strengthening relationships between science and society. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2025 Jul 8;122(27):e2400929122. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2400929122. Epub 2025 Jun 30. PMID: 40587786.

Trash headlines: media portrayal of risks, response measures, and partisan differences in news coverage of space junk JCOM 24(03), A07.

The differential effects of metaphor on comprehensibility and comprehension of environmental concepts JCOM 24(4), A01.

The importance of scientists' intellectual humility for communicating effectively across ideological and identity-based divides. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2025 Jul 8;122(27):e2400930121. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2400930121. Epub 2025 Jun 30. PMID: 40587791.

Exploring impacts of participatory science communication on science, politics, and society. Frontiers in Communication. Volume 10 - 2025

Co-production and transformative change: lessons and challenges. Global Social Challenges Journal (published online ahead of print 2025). Retrieved Jul 6, 2025, from https://doi.org/10.1332/27523349Y2025D000000048

A Mixed-Methods Study of Public Understanding of Scientific Uncertainty. Science Communication, 0(0).

Language Problems in Science Communication at a Multilingual Setting: A Review Study. Khwopa Journal, 7(1), 24–37.

🗓 The SciComm Diary

NEW ENTRIES TO THE DIARY! I can’t fit all entries in the newsletter here so I just include the new ones. If you are a paid subscriber you can access the full diary listings at any time via the button. You can also see what is coming up this week or so, for free, via the button below.

• Science communication remote coworking sessions still happen weekly if you are looking for a virtual community!

• AUSTRALIA CONFERENCE 9 JULY 2025: Communicate to Inspire 2025

• WEBINAR 10 JULY 2025: Japan Science Forum-PCST webinar about PCST symposium in Tokyo virtual

• USA CONFERENCE 14 -17 JULY 2025: Medicine in the Media [New York]

• VIRTUAL WEBINAR JULY 2025: Online launch of NIHR's Guiding Principles for community engagement and involvement (CEI) and Session 2

• HYBRID CONFERENCE 16 - 18 JULY 2025: The BIG Event [London/UK]

• HYBRID CONFERENCE 28 - 30 AUGUST 2025: Talking Maths in Public - and now bursaries are available [Warwick/UK]

• UK CONFERENCE 9 SEPT 2025: Association for Science and Discovery Centres (ASDC) Conference: The next 25 years - In person at the National Science and Media Museum [Bradford]

• MEXICO CONFERENCE 9-13 SEPT 2025: RedPOP 2025.

• WEBINAR 15 SEPT: Health Misinformation: UNPACKED

• VIRTUAL WEBINAR 24 SEPT 2025: Working With Audiences Underrepresented in the Physical Sciences

• GERMANY CONFERENCE 25 SEPT 2025: Computational Methods in Science Communication Research – Opportunities, Challenges, and Current Applications [Call for submissions open now]

• VIRTUAL TRAINING: Workshop: Using ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot for Communications

• UK: Filmmaking course 20-22 OCT 2025: Popular Science Filmmaking course is back! [Bristol]

• VIRTUAL TRAINING: Weekly (4 weeks) from the 21 OCT Science Communication through Poetry

• CONFERENCE MARCH 2026: European Citizen Science Association [Finland]

• CONFERENCE 2-4 JUNE 2026: Ecsite Conference Universeum, Gothenburg, Sweden

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