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The SciCommer · Aug 25, 2026

The SciCommer: 25 August 2026

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Heather Doran · The SciCommer

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This newsletter is for science communicators around the world. It brings together news, events and research. I prioritise videos, links and research/events/conferences that help us to improve science communication practice and research in this newsletter (and don’t forget to check to see if it has been included already).

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Astro-tourism as a model for participatory science engagement - Nature

The Open Notebook ‘How to Write About Scientific Debates’

On Climate Change ‘Atmospheric scientist Katharine Hayhoe explains why conversation on the topic is so important and how to take this step toward climate action.’

In Phys.org ‘From the lab to headlines: Why do some studies make the news while others don’t?’

Science reports ‘The efforts of the National Science Foundation (NSF) to diversify U.S. science beyond its historical reliance on white men were dealt a blow last week after the Department of Justice (DOJ) ruled that three of its long-running programs were unconstitutional because they discriminate by race or sex and must be ended.’

From Happi ‘Five Ways the Cosmetics Industry Can Support Good Science Communication’ - my route into science communication came via toothpaste so I am always interested in what the cosmetics industry is up to.

In The Grocer on the bad science communication relating to nutrition ‘Scaremongering about sugar is pushing out the actual science’

BOOK REVIEW: Review of the European Commission Joint Research Centre report on trustworthy public communication

I get a bit of help from AI for this part of the newsletter and prompt it to include a short summary of the research articles to help out readers.

Correct, Incorrect, or Uncertain? Factual Science Knowledge, Conspiratorial Anti-Science Beliefs, and “Don’t Know” Responses in Post-Pandemic Romania, Social Sciences, 2026. The study distinguishes between factual errors, uncertainty and conspiratorial anti-science beliefs in a survey of Romanian adults, finding that these represent different relationships with scientific knowledge and institutions rather than a single form of science-literacy deficit.

Making science part of `The Conversation’ — benefits and barriers experienced by researchers as authors writing for The Conversation Africa, Journal of Science Communication, 2026. Analysis of thousands of author profiles and articles, alongside interviews with researchers, found that scientists value The Conversation Africa for visibility, networking and policy impact, while time constraints, concerns about oversimplification and limited institutional recognition remain important barriers.

Science communication on websites of Argentinean research institutes, Comunicación y Sociedad, 2026. An analysis of the websites of 30 Argentine research institutions found that stronger science communication strategies were associated with multimodal content, locally relevant topics and efforts to promote scientific culture.

Modern science outreach: A guide for scientists, Cell, 2026. The authors outline six practical approaches to help scientists engage wider audiences, combining established science communication theory with modern media and emerging channels for public outreach.

The future of public engagement with science, Metascience, 2026. This review examines Angela Potochnik and Melissa Jacquart’s Public Engagement with Science: Defining the Project, highlighting its interdisciplinary approach and emphasis on moving beyond deficit-model communication towards dialogue, community participation and reciprocal relationships between science and society.

Do patients and the public understand and feel engaged and valued after reading outcome set study invitations? A UK qualitative study, BMJ Open, 2026. Interviews and focus groups with 31 members of the public found that study invitations could cause confusion and concerns about safety and accessibility, while clear purpose, trust and a sense that participants’ contributions were valued helped encourage engagement.

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