D4.4: Recommendations on Policies and Incentives for Quality Science Communication

This deliverable relates to the QUEST Task 4.3 “Recommendations on Policies and Incentives for Quality Science Communication”. The task aims to identify recommendations to create the framework conditions for incentivising quality communication of science and R&I to a wide public for scientists and research institutions, as well as across different media and communicators, focusing in particular on the QUEST research strands, i.e. journalism, museums, and social media. Also, actions focusing on public engagement are considered.

The recommendations have been developed by combining desk research with the results of research conducted within the QUEST project, based on codesign activities engaging representatives of the target groups that might foster the promotion of policy and incentives at different levels (i.e. journalists, journalists, museums, scientists, communicators, policymakers, media industry, social media platforms, governance of research institutions from the public and the private sector, etc.).

In particular, the document investigates:

• the role of policy, at institutional, national and EU level, to increase quality in science communication,
• what strategies policy-makers can introduce to limit the growing spread of disinformation among citizens in favour of an increasing distrust towards public bodies,
• what specific policies and incentives promoted by funding organizations can affect public engagement with science and technology.