Public Communication of Science and Technology (PCST) Conference 2012

PCST Conferene: Florence, Italy 18-20 April 2012

Public communication of science and technology is critical in a world thoroughly interwoven with science and technology. The International Network on Public Communication of Science and Technology (PCST) is a network of individuals from around the world who are active in producing and studying PCST.

The PCST Network includes:

Science journalists.
Science museum and science center staff.
Science theatre directors.
Academic researchers who study aspects of PCST.
Scientists who deal with the public.
Public information officers for scientific institutions.
Many others interested in these issues.

The PCST Network sponsors international conferences, electronic discussions, and other activities to foster dialogue among the different groups of people interested in PCST, leading to cross-fertilization across professional, cultural, international, and disciplinary boundaries.
The PCST Network seeks to promote new ideas, methods, intellectual and practical questions, and perspectives.

The PCST conference will be held in Florence, Italy 18-20 April 2012.
The programme will include themes such as:

What does quality mean in science communication?
Evaluating public communication of science
Art and/in science communication
Two decades of academic publishing in PCST
Ethics and aesthetics of science communication
Communicating the social sciences
Reflexive challenges: communicating PCST?
Emerging trends and issues in science communication
Changing media, changing formats, changing science communication models?
Public communication of technology: the ‘Cinderella’ of PCST?

Proposals will be welcome from areas like science journalism, science communication and science in society research, science museums, communication activities by research institutions.

Presentation formats will include paper presentations and roundtable discussions; a Science Communicators’ Corner, a PCST Keywords’ arena, a Book Club and a ‘Science in the Kitchen’ space; exhibitions, theatre performances and videos.

Plenary speeches will be delivered by key international experts in science communication research and practice.