SciPEP 2023: New Insights for Communicating Basic Science

On July 25-26, 2023, “SciPEP 2023: New Insights for Communicating Basic Science” explored new research, findings, and implications for how to support scientists communicating about basic, discovery science. Science communication scholars, practitioners, and trainers came together to discuss new insights and generated ideas and opportunities to advance basic science communication research and practice.

Two years earlier, SciPEP’s “Communicating the Future: Engaging the Public in Basic Science” conference virtually gathered more than 1,200 people from 60 countries to explore what we know – and don’t know – about basic science communication. The sheer magnitude of the conference (and deep, rich discussions there and since) reinforced that this is what the community is hungry for: evidence-based tools and resources to better equip scientists and professional communicators for basic science communication. A detailed summary of the 2021 conference and video recordings are available for reference. Also, the SciPEP team published “Charting a Path for Public Engagement in Basic Science: A Prospectus,” to summarize key questions that arose from the 2021 conference and a framework for addressing those questions.

The SciPEP team has identified (and commissioned) new research, and convened or facilitated conversations, that have deepened our understanding of key gaps and refined the questions identified during the 2021 conference.

Attendees of SciPEP 2023 learned more about these findings, connected with others to discuss new insights, and helped plan the next steps for our community.

Communicating Basic Science: Champion, Catalyze, Connect  

The Department of Energy and The Kavli Foundation, through a unique federal-philanthropy initiative, have carried out a joint exploration of scientists and professional communicators’ needs to share their passion for basic research with members of the public. Leaders from this initiative will discuss their questions and insights from this work, plans for this conference, and hopes for a community-driven effort to champion, catalyze, and connect research, training, practice, and people for basic science communication. 

Rick Borchelt, U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science
Lauren Budenholzer, The Kavli Foundation
Keegan Sawyer, U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science
Brooke Smith, The Kavli Foundation

Perceptions and Preferences: What does (the) public want?  

We know science communication works best when it reflects the interests of publics – whether friends, funders, legislators, or others in our communities and nations. So, what do we know about how different publics think and feel about “basic” science? How do publics prefer to interface or engage with basic science? And what, if anything, is distinct about these perceptions and preferences relative to applied science and technology? This session will explore new insights about public interest in basic science and how they might vary among cultural, political, economic, and other community demographics.

Cary Funk, Pew Research Center
Ken Goldstein, Association of American Universities
Eve Klein, Association of Science and Technology Centers
Chris Volpe, ScienceCounts
Moderator: Rick Borchelt, U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science 

Identity and Inspiration: What do we know about “basic” scientists? 

There are scientists who identify their work as more “basic” rather than more “applied.” How do these basic scientists feel about public communication or engagement with science? What inspires or motivates them to communicate about research? What do they hope to achieve by communicating about science? Is there anything distinct about the  identity and communication interests of basic scientists in comparison to scientists’ whose research is more applied? Answers to these types of questions can help inform tools, training, and other resource needs to equip and support basic scientists’ communication efforts. This session will explore “new insights” into who basic scientists are and how they think and feel about science communication. 

Olivia Ambrogio, American Geophysical Union
John Besley, Michigan State University
Todd Newman, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Chris Volpe, ScienceCounts
Sara Yeo, University of Utah
Moderator: Keegan Sawyer, U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science  

Relevance or Connection? 

“Make science relevant.” We’ve all heard it. Some of us have said it. Some of us have tried it successfully. And some of us are, quite frankly, baffled by it. What does “relevant” mean for basic science – research that is primarily aimed at advancing knowledge? What makes subatomic particle collisions or computer models of oobleck or the digestive process of salamander-eating plants “relevant” to different publics? And, critically, who determines what is relevant about basic science to whom? 

Mónica Feliú-Mójer, Ciencia Puerto Rico and Science Communication Lab
Jeanne Garbarino, RockEDU Science Outreach
Tiffany Lohwater, UC Berkeley
Fanuel Muindi, Research!America and SAI Collective
Moderator: Brooke Smith, The Kavli Foundation 

Reflections and Promise 

The SciPEP leadership team will reflect on Day One of the conference as they introduce what is to come on conference Day Two.

Rick Borchelt, U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science
Brooke Smith, The Kavli Foundation

Communicating the Future: What’s next for engaging the public in basic science 

Leaders from The Kavli Foundation and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science will share how new insights about how basic science communication are influencing their institutions’ communication programs and practices, and invite the broad science communication community to take action too. 

We will use one or more Miro Boards (virtual whiteboards) to support community brainstorming and discussion throughout the day. An announcement will be posted on the conference platform when the boards are open. We recommend opening a new browser window to join.

Up to 300 people can use a Miro Board at one time. If you are unable to join, please try again later to share your thoughts. Once open, the Miro Boards will remain open for the duration of the conference.

A video welcome by:

Asmeret Asefaw Berhe, U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science
Cynthia Friend, The Kavli Foundation
Moderator: Keegan Sawyer, U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science

Charting a Pathway from Insights to Action

We have some new insights. But we still have many, many unanswered questions. Now what? It seems like someone should interview scientists, scicomm practitioners, social science researchers, and others about what questions to prioritize and how to take action on them, and then synthesize the feedback into a compelling report. Oh, wait…

Ashley Cate, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Xinnan Du, Kavli Institute for Particle Physics and Cosmology at Stanford University
Rose Hendricks, Association of Science and Technology Centers
Reyhaneh Maktoufi, Tangled Bank Studios
Moderator: Keegan Sawyer, U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science 

SciComm Training: What do we need? 

We know there are many ongoing challenges in science communication training – it tends to be focused on skills instead of strategic goals, it is not equitable, and it is rarely evaluated. Where there is absence, there is opportunity. As we learn more about public interests in basic research, the communication needs of basic scientists, and meaningful framing and tactics to connect publics, scientists, and basic research, we have the opportunity to modify existing training approaches. What do we need to develop effective science communication tools and training to equip “basic” scientists and those who communicate and engage the public with basic research? 

Anthony Dudo, University of Texas at Austin
Claudia Fracchiolla, American Physical Society
Bruce Lewenstein, Cornell University
Laura Lindenfeld, Stony Brook University
Moderator: Brooke Smith, The Kavli Foundation 

A SciComm Research Agenda: What do we include?   

Even with new insights about public interests in basic science, basic scientists’ motivations to communicate, and meaningful connections between the two, there are still more questions than answers. What are the research needs and priorities to empower this community to more effectively equip basic scientists or to engage the public in basic science?  

Nic Bennett, University of Texas-Austin
Jayatri Das, The Franklin Institute
Matt VanDyke, The University of Alabama
Sara Yeo, University of Utah
Moderator: Rick Borchelt, U.S. Department of Energy  

Opportunities and Priorities: Of the community, for the community, and by the community 

Engage with other conference attendees to discuss opportunities and priorities for basic scicomm training, research, practice and more.  

During this session, we will use one or more Miro Boards (virtual whiteboards) to support community brainstorming and discussion. We recommend opening a new browser window to join.

Up to 300 people can use a Miro Board at one time. If you are unable to join, please try again later to share your thoughts. The Miro Boards will remain open for the duration of the conference.

Lauren Budenholzer, The Kavli Foundation
Daren Ginete, Science Philanthropy Alliance
Marina Joubert, Stellenbosch University
Erika Shugart, National Science Teaching Association
Jory Weintraub, North Carolina State University
Moderator: Keegan Sawyer, U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science 

Closing Thoughts and Gratitude 

The SciPEP leadership team looks back on the conference, how it can set the table for future discussions of engagement in basic science, and what next steps our community needs to take to do it well.

Rick Borchelt, U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science
Brooke Smith, The Kavli Foundation