QUEST

QUality and Effectiveness in Science and Technology communication

Videos

QUEST testimonials

Interested in how other science communication professionals have used QUEST’s resources in their work? These videos discuss the impact that our materials have had among the SciComm community.

Valentina De Marchi, Associate Professor at the University of Padova & President of the GRONEN network, shared with us the issues she faces in her work, and how collaboration with QUEST and the project’s resources have helped her reflect on her organisation’s science communication activities.
Marina Joubert, Researcher and Lecturer at Stellenbosch University, shared with us her views on science communication research today, and how the QUEST project’s activities and resources show how quality research should be underpinned by quality science communication.

QUEST at events

Science and Society, a Trust issue

20 May 2021: This event addressed the issue of trust from a variety of perspectives, and explored how scientists and institutions can gain public confidence. It also discussed if it is necessary for the communicator to trust the other side, the public, and whether and when trust is one of the goals of science communication.

PCST2020+1

18 May 2021: The workshop aimed at engaging the audience in a participative discussion with policy makers about possible policies and incentives for promoting quality science communication, starting from those identified by QUEST.

SCI:COM 2021

9–10 March 2021: The virtual session discussed how science communication professionals can benefit from European research projects. Read more about it here.

Science in the Newsroom Global Summit 2020

23–24 November 2020: Suzanne Franks and Roberta Villa from QUEST participated in this event examining science journalism in the context of COVID19 pandemic and future health crises.  

Signals from the future: Emerging technologies in science journalism

4–5 November 2020: The QUEST Project Coordinator Alessandra Fornetti moderated the discussion “New approaches and mechanisms for communicating about Future and Emerging Technologies”. Moreover, Neil Maiden from CASS Business School (City, University London) demonstrated IJECT.AI, a new and innovative tool under development by QUEST. Read more about the event here, and video recordings of all of the panels are available here.

Guns, Germs, and Covid-19. Why science communication needs metaphors

26 September 2020 – When describing the coronavirus pandemic, journalists, politicians and scientists tend to use the imagery of conflict, saying that we are at war with an invisible enemy. Why are warfare metaphors so common in health discourse? Do they always convey the desired message? QUEST co-organised this event on metaphors in science communication, held during the Research Communication Week 2020 at the Ca’ Foscari university.

“Train the Scientist!”

1 October 2019: Brian Trench, President of the Public Communication of Science and Technology (PCST) Network, delivered the keynote “Issues in Science Communication Training” at the QUEST event “Train the Scientist!”, held in Venice, Italy. The keynote was followed by a panel discussion.

Other videos

Learn more about our mission and goals from QUEST project partners:

What is QUEST all about? Alessandra Fornetti from VIU – Venice International University explains how we bring together a team of professionals from diverse backgrounds. Together we are working to improve science communication and give science communicators tools to better engage the public on science and technology issues.
What roles do different professionals have in science communication? Arko Olesk from Tallinn University explains how scientists and journalists have complimentary tasks in science communication.
What is the relationship like between science journalists and science PR? This is one of the main questions for Suzanne Franks from City, University of London as our project investigates current issues in science communication.
Is science journalism of today successful in communicating evidence-based science to the wider public and policymakers? This is a major question for Rebecca Wells from City, University of London as our project analyses the foundations of effective science communication.

The coronavirus pandemic has been accompanied by a wave of misinformation about vaccinations. Roberta Villa, health writer and journalist, explains why it’s crucial to reassure parents that vaccinating their children is now more important than ever.

INTERVIEW – Jacopo Pasotti from QUEST spoke to Marco Cattaneo, the editor of Le Science, about communications on climate change in the context of the ongoing Covid-19 crisis.

INTERVIEW – We spoke to Alberto Tozzi, Chief Innovation Officer at the Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, about digital innovations, privacy and fake news in the context of the Covid-19 crisis.

QUEST