Public Science Communication in the Networked Society

Science informs many individual, organizational and societal decisions – from personal health and education to climate policy and technological governance. At the same time, science depends on public trust and support to sustain its autonomy, funding, and role in society.

Science communication is therefore not a peripheral activity – it is a central interface between science and society. In today’s digitally networked environment, however, this interface is being fundamentally reconfigured. Power relations within the science communication ecosystem are shifting, as new actors – from institutions and journalists to influencers, citizens, and AI systems – compete for visibility and authority. Different audiences turn to different sources, formats, and actors for science-related information, and hold different expectations towards science. In this complex landscape, questions of credibility and verification are becoming more salient for navigating what counts as reliable knowledge.

The talk explores these developments in light of broader contestation around science, changing media infrastructures, and AI’s growing role. Drawing on recent research, it discusses how science communication is changing under these conditions – and what this might mean for its future.

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About Mike S. Schäfer

Mike S. Schäfer is Professor of Science Communication and Director of the Center for Higher Education and Science Studies (CHESS) at the University of Zurich. His research focuses on public communication about science- and technology-related issues—particularly on digital transformation processes, platform dynamics, and societal debates on artificial intelligence and climate change.