Questions of the Day Program
Michel Claessens shares insights from a PCST science communication conference in Suzhou, China
Fanuel Muindi interviews Dr. Michel Claessens to expand on his reflections from attending the 2024 PCST symposium in Suzhou, China, titled “Communicating Science Across Cultures: Approaches, Perspectives, and Challenges.”
Claessens shares insights into the conference’s unique mix of scholars, practitioners, and policymakers, emphasizing the role of science communication in bridging cultural and disciplinary divides. “China is the only country in the world with a law on science popularization,” Claessens notes, highlighting its prioritization of science communication alongside technological innovation. The conversation also delves into the challenges of communicating scientific uncertainty and the pressures faced by communicators in big science projects.
Reflecting on the conference’s success, Claessens underscores the importance of including young participants and fostering collaboration: “It’s half the connecting activities and half the real content that make these events so impactful.”
Related Links
Chapters
0:00 CivicSciTV Intro
0:16 QOTD Intro
0:36 Previously on QOTD
1:31 PCST Overview
3:02 Science Popularization
5:27 Conference Participants
6:36 Cultural Differences
8:29 Communicating Uncertainty
11:25 China’s Priorities
13:08 Big Science Pressures
16:47 Engaging Students
17:41 Scholars vs Practitioners
19:17 Building Networks
20:39 Accessibility Challenges
22:08 Public Engagement Goals
How to cite the conversation: Claessens, M., & Muindi, FJ. Communicating science across different cultures — a reflection on the PCST Suzhou Symposium 2024. (Video) Civic Science Television. Dec 15, 2024. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWimrO9OwgM
CSML's mission is to document the diverse practices of civic science to inform, educate, and inspire current and the next generation of practitioners in the field, and the broader publics. Through the practice of ethnographic civic science journalism, the lab offers practitioners a sandbox for experimentation—using video, digital publishing, and audio—to surface and make sense of the knowledge, lived experiences, behaviors, motivations, and responsibilities that shape civic science.
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