VA awarded the Swedish Unesco Award 2022

VA has been awarded the Swedish Unesco Award 2022 for making important contributions to open science, both nationally and internationally. The award recognises the ‘invaluable contribution that VA (Public & Science) makes in the spirit of UNESCO, and in line with its vision: ‘research accessible to all”’.

Researchers’ Grand Prix Digital open for entries

In the Researchers’ Grand Prix, researchers compete to present their research in the most understandable, captivating, and inspiring way in just four minutes. The online heat of competition is open to contestants from all over Sweden and presentations can be submitted in either Swedish or English. Closing date for entries: 1 August.

Current activities

Cross-cutting activity on science communication
VA’s Cissi Askwall will be participating in the COST Cross-Cutting Activity on Science Communication’s final conference in Copenhagen on 23 June. The conference will explore current trends and best practices on how to communicate science to policymakers and citizens, and how to include science communication activities within collaborative, interdisciplinary research programmes. Read more.

Meet VA at the EUSEA conference in Cork
European Science Engagement Conference takes place on 6-7 July in Cork, Ireland. Participants can learn about VA’s successful ‘Borrow a researcher’ model for science engagement from Julia Brink and, as President of EUSEA, VA’s Secretary General Cissi Askwall will also be opening the conference. Read more.

Scientists as science communicators: ESOF 2022
What do we learn from large-scale researchers’ surveys for improving public communication about science and research? Gustav Bohlin will be sharing findings from VA’s surveys at this year’s EuroScience Open Forum in Leiden on 13 July. This large interdisciplinary international conference is being held in a hybrid format from 13 to 16 July. Read more.

TENACITY: new EU project on academic civic engagement
How can deliberative democracy practices be used by universities to improve collaboration between universities and their local communities? TENACITY is a new EU Erasmus+ project designing and testing tools and strategies to engage the academic community, local citizens and decision makers in developing deliberations through a structured and inclusive approach. VA is one of nine European partners in this two-year project. Read more.

Nationwide citizen science project investigating plastic waste
In this year’s ForskarFredag mass experiment - the Plastic Experiment - school pupils are helping researchers to undertake a scientific study of the extent of plastic found in the Swedish natural environment. During two weeks in spring, school classes collected and categorised 19,536 plastic items in places around Sweden. Read more.

YouCount – citizen scientist training
The EU YouCount project is about using citizen science to boost young people’s inclusion in society. Read about PhD student Dina Dabaghie’s experiences working with the young citizen scientists in Sweden, who are all members of Botkyrka Youth Council, and the training they have undertaken. Read more.

New Horizon Europe project to advance gender equality
GENDERACTIONplus is a new EU project seeking to advance gender equality in the European Research Area through capacity building, policy exchange and coordination, as well as the provision of strategic policy advice. One of 26 partners, VA’s specific role is to manage citizen and stakeholder engagement within the project. The three-year project kicked-off at a meeting in Prague in June. Read more.

VA’s recent activities

Science café explores new climate technologies
On 1 June, VA’s first activity within the EU TechEthos project was held in Sweden. Members of the public met with researchers to talk about new emerging climate engineering technologies held as part of an evening Climate Bar event at the National Museum of Science and Technology in Stockholm. Read more.

In search of the future of scicomm
How can science communication be better adapted to the conditions of today? This is something that was investigated as part of the EU RETHINK project, in which VA was responsible for the Swedish hub. The project, which has now come to an end, has produced a range of resources and recommendations to strengthen science communication across Europe. Read more.

VA’s recent publications and resources available in English

VA Barometer 2021/2022: An annual survey into the Swedish public’s general attitudes towards science and researchers.

VA information folder 2022: Information about VA and its members.

VA’s definition guides to science communication, citizen science, open science and responsible research and innovation

VA in social media