The University of Salerno has concluded a series of initiatives dedicated to Science Communication, promoted through collaboration between the NEOLAiA Alliance, the University’s Third Mission Office and the Interdepartmental Centre for Public Philosophy and Public Science (CIP³S). The training programme, aimed at the academic community, consisted of an introductory seminar open to all university members and two limited-enrolment workshops, with the aim of providing theoretical and practical tools for communicating scientific research more effectively and strengthening the dialogue between science and society.
The Seminar on February 25: “Public Communication of Science”
The introductory seminar, entitled “Public Communication of Science”, took place on 25 February in the “Gabriele De Rosa” lecture hall and was attended by a large and varied audience, including lecturers, researchers, technical and administrative staff, fellows, doctoral students and students, together with many other members of the academic community, confirming the common interest in the topics of scientific communication and dialogue between research and society.
After institutional greetings from the Rector, Prof. Virgilio D’Antonio, the Delegate for the Third Mission/Knowledge Enhancement and Technology Transfer, Prof. Orlando Troisi, the Director of CIP³S, Prof. Davide Monaco, and the UNISA Coordinator of the NEOLAiA project, Prof. Vittorio Scarano, Giancarlo Sturloni, science communicator and risk communication expert, took the floor.
During his speech, he emphasised that “communication is not optional, it is a necessity”: sharing knowledge is a fundamental value of science, indispensable for collaborating across disciplinary barriers, ensuring accountability and participating consciously in public debate.
The central idea was that “Communication = Message + Relationship” and that trust is an essential condition for effective scientific communication.
Ample space was devoted to operational aspects: knowing the audience, defining clear and verifiable objectives, choosing appropriate messages and channels, segmenting the target audience and planning communication in a coherent and effective manner.
Workshops on 26 and 27 February
The cycle continued on 26 February with the workshop “Public speaking in scientific communication”, reserved for one member of staff from each department. The workshop provided practical tools for effective public speaking, exploring storytelling techniques and methods for constructing effective presentations. Individual exercises allowed participants to test their skills in presenting their research to an audience of non-experts or colleagues.
On 27 February, the workshop “Promoting your scientific research” took place, focusing on the logic of the information landscape and public engagement. Participants experimented with communication strategies on the web and social media through practical activities, working on improving their ability to promote scientific results and engage in dialogue with the media, funders and decision-makers.
Through this series of initiatives, the University of Salerno has strengthened its commitment to its Third Mission, promoting a culture of science communication that is grounded in awareness, responsibility and participation. This initiative also marks the beginning of a broader programme of Citizen Science activities to be carried out as part of Work Package 8 of the NEOLAiA project, led by Prof. Vittorio Scarano. As was noted at the end of the seminar “The biggest problem with communication is the illusion that it has taken place”, a warning that accompanied the entire training course and that will guide future activities dedicated to the active involvement of citizens in research processes.
All photos of the event are available in our gallery.
