Engaging in socially responsible research: exploring scientists' perceived value of online public communication of science

Communicating science to broad publics using the Internet and social media has become a key social priority on EU scientists’ professional agenda to enhance socially responsible research (Ball 2016). To date, little research has analysed scientists’ values and motivations regarding digital science communication practices targeted at non-specialist audiences. Using a semi-structured interview protocol, I examine Spanish female STEM scientists’ engagement in digital science communication practices. The interview data were analysed using a content thematic approach on the software Atlas.TI. Results confirm that the primary motivation for engaging in digital practices is to make science accessible to broad publics. They also view communicating beyond the scientific community as a valuable practice to improve citizens’ scientific literacy, a finding that echoes the deficit model of science communication as described by Trench (2008). In other words, scientists consider initiatives such as giving online talks, participating in podcasts, creating videos, or sharing events and content on social media (Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, LinkedIn) as an opportunity to democratise science. They also perceive them as socially responsible research, and as a way of raising awareness for scientific topics and careers (Loroño-Leturiondo & Davies 2018; Metcalfe 2019). Interviewees also highlighted the benefits of digital practices, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, due to their international range, sustainability, and accessibility. The implications derived from the findings point to the need to design LSP training that supports skills development in communicating scientific content to non-specialized audiences on the Internet and the deployment of digital tools and resources supporting online science communication.