The 18th Public Communication of Science and Technology (PCST) Conference took place from 27 to 29 May 2025 in Aberdeen in Scotland under the theme, Using Science Communication to effect positive change: exploring transitions, traditions and tensions. Hosted by the University of Aberdeen, about 600 science communication practitioners, educators, and researchers from across the globe came together to share their work and discuss the positive contributions of science communication in the contexts of climate emergency, food and water security, and poverty alleviation; and challenges in science communication such as ethics and the role of AI. Participants explored these global challenges through research presentations, posters, workshops, and creative performances.
Bursary
Bursaries were also allocated to selected attendees through the generosity of the Kavli Foundation, the 2023 PCST Conference in Rotterdam, and participants who paid it forward. One of the bursary awardees was Sandra Samantela from the Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC), University of Twente. Sandra is one of the PhD candidates of the EU Horizon and UKRI co-funded program EarthSafe: Unveiling Earth’s Critical Resources for Clean Energy and a Sustainable Future (https://earthsafe-dn.eu/). She presented a poster and a three-minute talk on Visual Framing of Geothermal Energy. The topic is a chapter of her research project in which she explores the social aspects of geothermal energy exploration to inform communication and public engagement strategies for the sustainable and inclusive energy transition.
Re-election for the Scientific Committee
Meanwhile, Associate Professor Anne Dijkstra of the BMS Faculty at the University of Twente got re-elected to the Scientific Committee, the governing body of the PCST Network and the main organiser of the conference.
Next meetings
Held biennially, the PCST Conference aims to bring together a diverse group of professionals working in the field of science communication from academia, government, and the private sector. It is also a venue to discuss science communication practices, workshops, and interdisciplinary approaches including the use of art in public engagement. The next PCST conference in 2027 will be held in Shanghai, China. In between local focused Symposia for smaller groups of participants will be organised in Tokyo (11 – 13 November 2025); the United Arab Emirates (3 and 4 February 2026), and Berlin (5 and 6 October 2026).
More information can be found at the PCST Network website: https://www.pcst.network/.
