Science Communication: Changes in the Relationship between Science and Society
Sep 15, 2023 | 9am - 2pm (PT)
Workshop at the University of California, Berkeley | By Invitation Only
Organized by the German Embassy in Washington DC, in cooperation with GHI Washington, the German Consulate General San Francisco, the German Research Foundation, the German Center for Research and Innovation in San Francisco; the Institute for European Studies at University of California, Berkeley, and the Henry Wheeler Center for Emerging and Neglected Diseases at University of California, Berkeley.
This event is by invitation only. If you would like to attend, please email Heike Friedman.
The program will begin with a keynote lecture by Nobel Laureate Randy Schekman who will speak on Open Access Publications in the Life Sciences andwill feature three panel discussions addressing issues of communication within the scientific community and between scientists and the broader public.
Knowledge is a key resource for our society. Scientific and research findings are not only driving forces of material and intellectual progress but also guide the decisions of policymakers and safeguard democracy. This is particularly true in times of crisis, when integrity of information is threatened by targeted disinformation. Climate change and the COVID 19 pandemic are just two examples of the pivotal role that the communication and interpretation of research results plays in public (and private) discourse. The goal of this event is to discuss how to further develop and structure science communication within the scientific community as well as between scientists and society to shape responsible policy.
Program
9 am: Welcome and Introduction
Julia Schaletzky,Executive Director, Center for Emerging & Neglected Diseases, Drug Discovery Center, UC Berkeley
Oliver Schramm, Consul General San Francisco
9:15 am: Keynote: Open access publications in the life sciences
Nobel Laureate Randy Schekman, Professor of Cell and Developmental Biology, UC Berkeley
10:00 am: Panel 1: Communication Within the Scientific Community: Lessons Learnt from Open Access on Ensuring Integrity and Diverse Representation
Panelists: Randy Schekman, Professor of Cell and Developmental Biology, UC Berkeley; Neil Gilbert, Milton and Gertrude Chernin Chair in Social Welfare, UC Berkeley, and Smriti Metha, Graduate Student in Psychology, UC Berkeley
10.40 - 11.00 am: Coffee Break
11:00 am: Panel 2: Communicating Science to the Broader Society - How to Capture Positive Impacts?
Panelists: Martin Storksdieck, Professor and Director, The STEM Research Center, Oregon State University; Brandon Brown, Professor of Physics, University of San Francisco; and Sabeeha Merchant, Professor of Plant and Microbial Biology, and Biochemistry, Biophysics and Structural Biology, UC Berkeley
11:40 am: Panel 3: Communicating science to the broader society - How to reduce negative impacts?
Panelists: Elena Conis, Professor, School of Journalism, UC Berkeley, Daniel Sargent, Associate Professor of History & Public Policy, UC Berkeley; and Mimi St. Johns, former editor-in-chief, The Stanford Review
12:20 pm: Summary
Smriti Metha, Graduate Student in Psychology, UC Berkeley
Closing Remarks
René Haak, Minister Counsellor, Science and Technology Section, German Embassy Washington DC
12:30 - 2:00 pm: Networking Lunch and Book Signing