The Science Journalism Forum (SJF) is returning for its 4th Edition, from 23 – 26 October 2023.
SJF is a virtual multilingual global event where science journalists, writers, publishers, scientists, students, and academia can share new ideas and thoughts in science journalism.
This 2023 edition is hosted under the theme “Science Journalism: Seeking Best Practices.” Through insightful case studies, panels, keynotes and expert-led workshops, the SJF will provide you with global opportunities to collaborate, share your experience and spark change in setting new standards for the future of science communication.
On 24 October at 14:00 UTC, the ISC will host an event entitled ‘Reframing Trust in Science: What Are the Lessons for Science Journalism?‘. The session will discuss the need for a more sophisticated approach to how science is communicated and how we understand ‘trust in science,’ asking the question, ‘What role does this approach suggest for science journalism?’
The session will draw from the forthcoming report ‘The Contextualization Deficit: Reframing Trust in Science for Multilateral Policy’ produced in collaboration with the UNESCO Chair on Science Communication for the Public Good and the ISC’s Centre for Science Futures.
The paper assesses the current state of research in various fields to highlight the limits of the typical science-policy interface. It proposes the need for a more sophisticated approach to how we integrate science into society and understand the concept of ‘trust in science.’ This involves reconsidering our strategies for engaging the public, moving beyond merely managing information to ensure broader public acceptance. Crucially, the paper emphasizes the importance of understanding the factors that influence how the public interprets and responds to scientific information, what it calls ‘the drivers of contextualization in public responses to scienc’, and outlines measures to achieve this understanding. Ultimately asking the question: what role does this approach suggest for science journalism?
Subscribe to the Centre’s newsletter to be notified of the paper’s release.