RETHINK

About the project

The RETHINK project ran from 1 January 2019 to 31 March 2022.

Science communication is at a pivotal stage in its evolution due to the emergence of digital communication platforms that are not only presenting new opportunities but are also leading to new challenges. RETHINK created an unprecedented view of the new science communication landscape to reveal the barriers and inequalities that stand in the way of open and reflexive connections between science and society. It also presented the way forward, encouraging evidence-based transformations in science communication practice as well as guiding relevant policy to further open Research & Innovation (R&I) to society. 

Scope

To achieve this, RETHINK developed a 360° view of the current science communication landscape. It succesfully mapped current science communication activities across Europe, including those taking place in the currently uncharted digital sphere. Using the COVID 19 case, Rethink explored the ‘sensemaking’ practices of citizens as they seek to understand scientific developments and scientifically important challenges, particularly while using online resources. The consortium carried out a comprehensive map of existing science communication training;  revealing gaps in its scope given today’s challenges and priorities and revealing science communicators, especially those on digital platforms, who were underserved. 

To maximise its impact, RETHINK had the following defining characteristics:

The project was embedded within the science communication realm to ensure its practical relevance and to increase the implementation of ideas and solutions. This was achieved both through the expertise and experience of the partners and through the contributions of wider participants, including New Scientist, BBC Focus magazine and the European Sounding Board, which brought a wide range of transdisciplinary experience and expertise. The project focused its efforts on a selection of relevant and urgent societal issues, including climate change and biodiversity.

The breadth of science communication was captured, with an emphasis on the  uncharted digital sphere, such as blogs, fora and social media. 

Project partners had access to science communication communities across Europe to gain an understanding of similarities and differences in practices across the EU. Sensemaking practices were captured among citizens including any differences by gender, geographic location and socioeconomic circumstances.

A reflective learning approach joined scholars and practitioners in various local communities of inquiry to shape the development and testing of effective strategies in real-world contexts.

The approach throughout RETHINK was to understand existing activities and challenges in science communication, develop strategies to deal with these challenges and barriers, experiment with new strategies to then allow the synthesis of findings into new approaches to science communication. Outputs were new ways of training those who engage in science communication, including those underserved by current training - such as bloggers and social media commentators. Guidance on policy were provided to create an environment that encourages open R&I. All of the research processes were open and so were the outputs and the data generated during the research to encourage a broad discussion and maximise uptake. 

Ecsite coordinated the work of 7 transdisciplinary hubs that generated a thorough and widespread overview of the science communication in Europe. These hubs, called Rethinkerspaces, acted as testbeds and validation mechanisms for the research results of the project.

RETHINK  received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under Grant Agreement no. 824573