Trustworthy, Reliable and Engaging Scientific Communication Approaches

ended

The TRESCA Project focuses on developing trust in science and innovation through innovating communication practices between scientific researchers, journalists and policy makers. It does this by drawing on the expertise of a diverse set of partners, both scholars and practitioners, from multidisciplinary backgrounds. The project’s goals are to systematically understand what drives public trust in science communication through large scale, experimental survey research and qualitative, deliberative research. TRESCA is designed to build long-term impact and produce positive change through the engagement and training of stakeholders, including scientists, journalists, policy makers and the public, in order to increase the production, exchange and consumption of more trustworthy, reliable, and accurate scientific communications. TRESCA’s focus in doing this is unique. TRESCA foregrounds the communication of findings from Social Science and Humanities (SSH) research related to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) developments around digitalisation. As digital devices and services are ubiquitous and permeate people’s everyday life, TRESCA relies on visual communications to empower people with that knowledge which is relevant to thrive in the digital ecosystem. The project focuses on three areas of concern around digitalisation: misinformation and digital safety; environ-mental health; automation and the future of skills and work. TRESCA develops a set of tools for improving science communication including a tested and assessed animated science communication video; the prototype of a misinformation widget working on encrypted communication channels to help distinguish trustworthy contents and sources; and a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) for scientists, journalists and policy makers to learn how to best facilitate reliable and trustworthy science communication.