Birte FÄHNRICH, Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, Germany
Anne DIJKSTRA, University of Twente, Faculty of Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences (BMS), Netherlands
John BESLEY, Michigan State University, Advertising + Public Relations Department, United States
Mike SCHÄFER, University of Zurich, Institute for Communication Science and Media Studies IKMZ, Switzerland
Background
With the growth of professional science communication and related political initiatives, the notion of “effectiveness” has gained attention in science communication research and practice in recent years. The concept of effective communication originates from strategic and organizational communication, where it serves as a core concept for controlling and evaluating communication, and where it is connected strongly to the idea of measurable effects of strategic communication. Although the term “effectiveness” has been applied widely to science communication, it is often used vaguely, has neither been clearly defined nor sufficiently analyzed in the field. And while strands of science communication research like the “science of science communication” have used the concept extensively, they do so from a specific, rather narrow perspective that is derived from social psychology and media effects research and thus falls short of a comprehensive understanding of the overall concept. In sum, the concept of “effective science communication” poses a challenge to the field. It needs to be scrutinised in more detail and requires a substantial debate within the community.
Objective and format
Against this backdrop, the discussion panel focuses on the concept of effective communication in the context of science communication. It aims for a substantial discussion of different perspectives of effectiveness. To enable openness and exchange, the workshop will be structured along four main questions:
Document 1 : Document 1