call for session proposals on history of science in public for Science & You 2021
Science&You aims at mixing research and practice in science communication, popularization and engagement, and is the place to share innovative and ground-breaking topics, exchange best practices and lessons learned, and why not invent new ideas and create new partnerships!
This is why, for all formats listed below, proposals from all perspectives are welcome. Whether you are a researcher in science communication, a researcher or professional of any field willing to share your experience in popularization and public engagement, a professional in a museum or a science center, a volunteer in an association running science workshops for children, a journalist writing about science subjects, a communications officer in a research laboratory... You are welcome to the conversation!
The call for proposals is open until February 19th, midnight (GMT +1). Submitted proposals will then be evaluated by Science&You's Scientific Committee, which is composed of international experts in science communication, science engagement and science/society stakes and issues.
Note: In anticipation of the evolution of the health situation, we are working on a virtual solution for the Conference. Virtual or face-to-face, the event will still be on in November 2021. More info to come in the springtime.
THE THEMES :
The theme of the Conference is "Science communication: take a step back to move forward", and is declined in 3 subthemes:
- Continued and emerging issues of science and technology developments
Papers will present conceptual notes and empirical research for debates and communication of energy sourcing, Artificial Intelligence, global warming and envionmental pollution, genetic enhancement an its social and individual issues, novel foods and nutrition, issues of health in emergency situations. These and more topics are continuously developing and relevant for this conference.
- ‘Collapsology’ concepts and looking beyond
Recent research in science communication focusses very much on communication in a trajectory of collapse: fake-news, pseudo-science, misinformation, conspiratorial mentality, confirmatory bias, filter bubbles, echo chambering, rumour mongering, fiction rather than facts, replication crisis, or judgements based on biases and heuristics. All these concepts highlight trends and dynamics, which in the changing context of social media technology, risk to close down the societal conversation rather than opening it up. We welcome papers analysing any of these dynamics on current controversies of science and technology.
- The need for a reflexive practice of science communication
The conference overall seeks to take a step back and ask the question: are these problems naming the real issues? Are we calling upon ‘false devils’ (le Graoully de Metz, see picture)? The ‘truth’ is commonly known to be the first casualty of warfare, and it appears that science communication is increasingly caught up in a low-intensity theatre of ‘Wild West’ warfare. The conference seeks to examine wider common ground that enables cross-boundary dialogue rather than propaganda, and to strengthen the structures that allow this to happen. Science communication needs to face up to the tensions between seeking to be effective and creating a common understanding and care about what sustains both purposes, also in global emergency situations such as the Corona Virus of 2020.
- Simple proposal: a paper on one of the themes defined in the call for proposals, for a solo intervention or with a colleague/partner. The Scientific Committee will link 3 to 4 simple papers to form a symposium and fill a session slot, and the Programme Committee will designate a convenor* (duration 15 minutes),
- Symposium: a session grouping linked 3 to 4 papers on one of the themes defined in the call for proposals, with several speakers, each of them having to create their account. Proposals for a symposium format must include a convenor* (duration 75 minutes),
- Poster presentation: a room will be reserved for poster sessions where researchers accompany a poster illustrating their methods and outcomes. A time slot will be reserved in the scientific programme, during which poster presentators will be invited to answer questions from the attendance (duration 75 minutes).
- Discussion panel: discussion panels will gather up to 4 speakers on a specific subject. A single abstract will sum up the topic to be discussed during the panel. Unlike the symposium, discussion panels are not a collection of papers on a topic: speakers are not expected to submit an abstract each. The discussion is intended to be interactive with the audience, as everyone is invited to take part in the conversation and to bring his.her ideas, good practices and opinions. Proposals for a discussion panel format must include a convenor* (duration 75 minutes).
* The convenor prepares the symposium topic with all the speakers, and makes sure that their presentations are coherent and concurrent. He.she is in charge of filling in the symposium’s or discussion panel’s abstract, of filling in information about the speakers of his.her discussion panel or symposium, so that they can create their own personal account and deposit their abstracts (in case of a symposium). The convenor also leads the conversation during the symposium or the discussion panel, and ensures the interaction with the audience.