Science Communication in Estonia

Karin Jaanson

19.11.2019

Main players • Estonian universities: Estonian University of Life Sciences, Tallinn university,

Tallinn University of Technology, University of Tartu, Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre, Estonian Academy of Arts

• Estonian National Public Broadcasting

• Radio shows Lab, NUTIKAS, Science News

• Science Portal Novaator,

• TV programmes: TV news, Centre of Excellence for Curiosity, Rocket69

• Estonian Academy of Sciences: articles, comments, constant availability

• Estonian Young Academy of Sciences

• Science Centres – Ahhaa Science Centre, Energy Discovery Centre

• Journals and news portals – Horisont, National Geographic etc

• etc.

• Estonian Research Council

Science communication working group since2016

Aims:

1. To co-operate to do more with less

2. to support the researchers better in communication

Members: science communication specialists from universities and research institutions

Activities:

• Regular meetings & discussions

• Planning joint activities

Science Communication activities of Estonian Research Council

• National Contests for Young Inventors since 2008), National Contest of Young Scientists (since 2002, ongoing), National contest for University Students ( since 1991)

• Young Scientists Festival (since 2015)

• Estonian Science Communication Award (since 2006, ongoing)

• Annual Science Media conferences dealing with different aspects of the relations of Science, Media and Society (since 2008)

• Estonian Research Information System, Statistics and Analysis

• Open Calls for Science Communication activities (since

2008)

• Structural fund programme TEAME+

• Annual conference in Parliament

• Research in Estonia

• Initiative „Kust sa tead?“ (How do you know?)

Science communication activities of Estonian Research Council

EU structural fund programm TEAME+ In 2009-2015 TeaMe, 2015-2019 TeaMe+, budget 3.2 million Euros

• Promoting science in media and supporting the development of science communication, in cooperation with Estonian Association of Newspapers

• TV programs and shows: Rocket 69 (10 seasons), Center of Excellence for Curiosity – Estonian Public Broadcasting

• Supporting dialogue between Science and Society, in cooperation with the Estonian Academy of Sciences (3-minute-video contest etc)

• Miks.ee (why.ee) portal, newsletter and science days to introduce career in STEM

• Development of science education materials

Annual Science communicationconference

Annual Young Scientists Festival

2019- 670 participants and 4000 visitors

ROCKET 69 AR0UND 80 000 VIEWERS

Science Communication Strategy 2020-2035

"Estonia knows„

Vision without action is daydream.

Action without vision is nightmare.

Japanese proverb

„It is not enough for science to be advanced; the public should also know about it and believe in it. This task requires a common national science communication strategy, improved knowledge, skills, and attitudes, as well as greater commitment of everyone involved“

Raul Rebane, Estonian journalist and communication consultant

National Public Broadcasting science on-line portalNovaator www.novaator.err.ee visitors per week:2017 18 5002018 26 0002019 29 300

10

11

strategy development process

Vision

By 2035:

science is a self-evident foundation of social and personal well-being for all;

evidence-based thinking is well established in Estonia and supported by the entire educational system;

the profession of a scientist and an engineer has emerged as one of the desirable choices for young people;

politics have respect for facts and scientific knowledge, and society in general understands the world through science;

scientists act as active advocates of science.

„Kust Sa Tead?“ (How do you know?) initiative www.kustsatead.ee

opening of the initiative: August 2018 at „Opinion

Festival“

active period: December 1, 2018 – March 2, 2019

33 partners – media, universities, schools, libraries,

NGO-s, Science Centres etc.

2 eminent Ambassadors:

Ülle Madise, Estonian Chancellor of Justice

Mart Noormaa, Research Director at Milrem, also known media-figure

General aims of the initiative: to bring evidence based argumentation into election campaign of Estonian

Parliament on 2019;

to point out the importance of certification of claims in politics;

to show the significance of the science as an effective way to get new knowledge and as base of the decisions;

to encourage candidates to show in their election campaign how they plan to use research results in their future activities;

to encourage electors to ask on what evidence candidates claims and promises are based on.

Main activities

Public list of experts from universities

Trainings for journalists

Cooperative effort to spot fake or unjustified facts during the election campaign (42 facts in ~3 months).

3 election debates dedicated to evidence based decision-making

FB, Website in Estonian and Russian on: How to spot fake news

How to get from question to answer on controversial issues

Short animations on 10 controversial issues on the website of Estonian Broadcasting company and screened during the popular morning program What does it mean when something is scientifically proved?

How do we know that young people are not interested in politics?

Are immigrants are really taking our jobs?

Useful materials and online information

Reach:

All in all reach by all partners ~100 000 including among other things:

o FB reach ~28 000

o Web-page reach ~1600

o Animations reached ~30 000

o EPB news portal ~11 000

THANK YOU!