The uncertainty associated with the pandemic has caused an increase in the demand for information (Casero-Ripollés, 2020; Masip et al., 2020; Muñiz, 2020) and media activity, both in the production and circulation of news.

The misinformation problem was exacerbated by the pandemic, but it is not new at all. In 2016, the Oxford Dictionary chose “Post-truth” as the word of the year and defined it as “circumstances in which objective facts influence public opinion less than appeals to emotion or personal beliefs”.

By 2020, with the declared pandemic, post-truth began to affect public health in all countries. That same year, the WHO coined the term “Infodemic” to get attention and call for action to resolve the problem of false or misleading information. In the same vein, UNESCO dedicated a report to a detailed description of this problem and its economic, democratic and human rights implications.

Anti-vaccine movements, conspiracy ideas about the origin of the coronavirus and false remedies such as the ingestion of chlorine dioxide, among others, reflect a distrust of science that has gained greater visibility during the global health crisis.

Dissemination contributes to shaping a scientific culture that allows democratization of knowledge, improves decision-making and promotes critical thinking for reasonable dialogue, in increasingly polarized societies. To that end, we adopt the conception of Public Communication of Science (PCS) as the “appropriate use of different tools, media, activities and mechanisms of dialogue to produce awareness, entertainment, opinion formation and understanding of the public of scientific knowledge” (Burns et al., 2003: 183).

In particular, we are interested in early career researchers being able to reach tools, concepts and explore their skills for a creative and innovative scientific popularization based on the knowledge that they generate daily in their workspaces. A space of these characteristics, with interaction between colleagues from various countries in the region and with lectures by experts in different aspects of the PCS, will allow the development of a critical vision regarding their social engagement. In addition, it will foster the creation of new spaces for the promotion of PCS.

This Workshop is offered, in the current context, as a contribution to the promotion of scientific vocations to communicate science in an accessible language to a wide audience and for the benefit of democracy.

Goals

• Promote reflection and debate on current issues related to the PCS in Latin America and the Caribbean.
• Stimulate vocations for the PCS, especially in researchers who are in the initial stages of their scientific careers in Latin American and Caribbean countries.
• Become aware of the current state of the PCS in the region and promote ties between participating countries.
• Set the stage for future meetings aimed to further promote the PCS, in accordance with the mission of TWAS and TYAN.

María Victoria Ennis. Master in Journalism (UAM – El País, Spain), Diplomat in Public Communication of Science (UNICEN), Graduate in Social Communication (FACSO-UNICEN). Associate Professor of Scientific Journalism and Assistant graduate in Introduction to Journalism (FACSO-UNICEN, Journalism career). Host of Ciencia x Científicxs at AbraTV (UNICEN audiovisual platform), free lance science journalist at El País newspaper, Spain. Science columnist at Radio Universidad (90.1 UNICEN). Promoter at INTELYMEC (engineering research group on artificial intelligence, robotics and renewable energies of the FIO – UNICEN). Researcher at the Observatory of Media, Citizenship and Democracy (FACSO-UNICEN), external collaborator of the self – managing team Ciencia Anti Fake News (belonging to CONICET and in collaboration with Agencia Télam) and member of @RedEspecie

Nicolás Camargo Lescano. University Technician in Journalism (Universidad Nacional de La Matanza). Journalist of the science journalism Agency CTyS (Ciencia, Tecnología y Sociedad, UNLaM), since 2013. Producer and co-host of Ciencia Modulada (2017-2019) on Radio Universidad FM 89.1 (Secretariat of Communications Media of the UNLaM). Professor of Semiotics in Sports Journalism (UNLaM). Director of the journalistic site Entre tanta ciencia. Member of the Editorial Committee of the Journal of scientific popularization Catálisis (Ecuador). Member of EsPeCie, a group of journalists and public communicators of science and technology.

Dra. Luciana Balboa. Luciana works as an Associate Researcher in Infectious Diseases at the Institute of Experimental Medicine (Argentine National Scientific and Technical Research Council-National Academy of Medicine) in Buenos Aires. She is a founding member of the Young Academy of Argentina. Also, she is member of the Steering Committee of the Latin-American Society of Tuberculosis and other Mycobacteriosis and participates in international consortiums aimed to foster the discovery of an improved vaccine against tuberculosis and neglected pathogens, such as the Collaboration for TB Vaccine Discovery (Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation) and the VALIDATE Network (UK).

Dr. Franco M. Cabrerizo. Franco M. Cabrerizo is currently a Research Member of The National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET, Argentina) and Associate Professor at National University of San Martín (UNSAM, Argentina). He holds a BSc (2002) and a Ph.D in chemical sciences (2005) from the National University of La Plata (UNLP). He is member of the Executive Committee of TWAS Young Affiliates/Alumni Network (TYAN) and member of the TWAS-LACREP.

Programme

1^st Friday, September 3: What is (and what we would like it to be) the public communication of science? Challenges, obstacles and realities
Speakers:

• Luisa Massarani (Brazil): PhD in Science Communication, Science Journalist and Researcher in Science Communication. SciDevNet Regional Coordinator for Latin America and the Caribbean and Coordinator of the Instituto Nacional de Comunicación Pública de la Ciencia y Tecnología, Casa de Oswaldo Cruz/Fiocruz (Brazil).
• Margoth Mena Young (Costa Rica). PhD in Communication from the University of Malaga, Spain. Since 2011, she has been working for the UCR as a professor of Research and Strategic Communication; and as a researcher at the Center for Research in Communication (CICOM) in the line of Communication and dissemination of science.
• Constanza Pedersoli (Argentina). Researcher at the National University of La Plata, where she studies social education in museums, the popularization of science and scientific culture. Between 2015 and 2019, she coordinated the South Node of the Network for the Popularization of Science and Technology in Latin America and the Caribbean (RedPOP).

– Closing activity (María Victoria Ennis Nicolás Camargo Lescano)

Moderator: María Eugenia Fazio (Argentina). Graduate in Social Communication and PhD. in Philosophy. She is a research professor in public communication of science and technology at the National University of Quilmes (UNQ). He participated in the creation of the UNQ Science Communication Program, where he currently carries out scientific culture management activities.

2^nd Friday, September 10: Right to science: why science popularization is critical in LAC?
Speakers:

• Guillermo Anlló (Argentina): Economist from the Faculty of Economics, University of Buenos Aires and M.SC. in Science, Technology and Society of the Universidad Nacional de Quilmes, Argentina. Senior Programme Specialist, Science and Technology Policy and Capacity-Building, UNESCO Regional Office for Science in LAC. Specialist in Science, Technology and Innovation Policy, Bioeconomy and Innovation Indicators.
• Yurij Castelfranchi (Brazil). Doctor in Sociology of Science and Technology and professor at the Federal University of Minas Gerais, where he coordinates the InCiTe Observatory (Innovation, Citizenship, Techno-science) and the Specialization Course in Public Communication of Science – Amerek.
• Cecilia Rosen (Mexico). Science journalist in various Latin American media. PhD in Social Sciences from FLACSO Argentina, Master in Science Communication from Imperial College London and graduate in Communication Sciences from the Autonomous University of Mexico.
• Diego Golombek (Argentina). Doctor in Biology and scientific communicator. Teacher and researcher at the National University of Quilmes and senior researcher at CONICET. As a popularizer, he was a columnist for the program “Científicos Industria Argentina” (on National Public Television) and editor of the book collection “Ciencia que barks …”. In 2015, he was awarded the UNESCO Kalinga Prize for Popularization of Science. Executive Director at INET (Instituto Nacional de Educación Tecnológica, Ministry of Education, Argentina).

– Closing activity (María Victoria Ennis Nicolás Camargo Lescano)

Moderator: María Eugenia Conforti (Argentina). Ph. in Social and Human Sciences and associate researcher at CONICET, with work headquarters at the Institute of Archaeological and Paleontological Research of the Pampean Quaternary (INCUAPA-CCT CONICET TANDIL). Professor at the National University of the Center of the Province of Buenos Aires (UNICEN), where he also coordinates the Higher University Diploma in Public Communication of Science.

3^rd Friday, /September 17: BC-AD (Before COVID-19 and After COVID-19). Experiences, learnings, and re-significations of science with the pandemic
Speakers:

• Diana Rosa Schlachter Piñón (Cuba). Graduate in Journalism from the University of Havana. Journalist of the Information System of Cuban Television, in Prensa Latina, Agencia Informativa Latinoamericana S.A. Master in Social Studies of Science and Technology at the University of Havana. Director and scriptwriter of sections and TV programs.
• Soledad Gori (Argentina). PhD. in the area of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, Health Sciences. Researcher at CONICET and professor at the University of Buenos Aires. Coordinator and founder of the Science Anti Fake News group, which has been dedicated, since the beginning of the pandemic, to denying misinformation and fake news about the coronavirus.
• Aleida Rueda (Mexico). Master in News Agency Journalism from the Rey Juan Carlos University, of Spain. Graduated in Journalism from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). She is president of the Mexican Network of Science Journalists and a contributor to various media throughout Latin America.

– Closing activity (María Victoria Ennis Nicolás Camargo Lescano)

Moderator: Pablo Esteban (Argentina). Master in Sociology of Culture and Cultural Analysis and PhD candidate in Communication. He has worked as a science journalist for the newspaper Página 12 (Argentina) since 2013 and has edited the supplement “Futuro” for the same newspaper. Teacher and researcher at the National University of Quilmes, where he integrates the Science Communication Program. Member of the team of La Liga de la Ciencia (Argentina), a Television Program dedicated to scientific dissemination.

4^th Friday, September 24: Science through violet lenses. Popularize knowledge with a gender perspective
Speakers:

• Gloria Bonder (Argentina). Degree in Psychology. M.SC. in Gender and Education. UNESCO Regional Chair on Women, Science and Technology; GenderInSITE Regional Focal Point for Latin America and the Caribbean; Director of the Gender, Society and Policies Area of FLACSO Argentina (Latin American School of Social Sciences, Argentina).
• Lina Caballero Villalobos (Colombia). Doctor in Genetics and Molecular Biology. She is the founder and coordinator of the Colombian headquarters Parent in Science, a research group whose objective is to support researchers in the challenging reconciliation between motherhood and academia.
• Adriana Paez Pino (Colombia). Engineer and PhD in Education. Director of “Cátedra Abierta Latinoamericana Matilda y las Mujeres en Ingeniería”, Past President GEDC LATAM (Consejo Global de Decanas y Decanos de Ingeniería, de América Latina), Co-Founder en R9T Renovación y Transformación Profesional. Dean of the Exact Science and Engineering School at Sergio Arboleda University, President of the “Consorcio Latinoamericano y del Caribe de Instituciones de Ingeniería” (LACCEI).
• Patricia Rodil (México). Biotechnologist & entrepreneur. Former director of Mikros (a mexican health biotech company). Member of the Allbiotech Executive Committee and Founder of “Científicas Mexicanas” community, aimed at supporting women in sciences. Lic. Roldi experience in Molecular Biology, Clinical Research, 4P Medicine. Background in Biotechnology, lab experience, teaching experience. Actively participating in non-profit organisations, concerned about education, health, science and public policy.

Coordinators:

María Victoria Ennis

Master in Journalism (UAM – El País, Spain), Diplomat in Public Communication of Science (UNICEN), Graduate in Social Communication (FACSO-UNICEN). Associate Professor of Scientific Journalism and Assistant graduate in Introduction to Journalism (FACSO-UNICEN, Journalism career). Host of Ciencia x Científicxs at AbraTV (UNICEN audiovisual platform), free lance science journalist at El País newspaper, Spain. Science columnist at Radio Universidad (90.1 UNICEN). Promoter at INTELYMEC (engineering research group on artificial intelligence, robotics and renewable energies of the FIO – UNICEN). Researcher at the Observatory of Media, Citizenship and Democracy (FACSO-UNICEN), external collaborator of the self – managing team Ciencia Anti Fake News (belonging to CONICET and in collaboration with Agencia Télam) and member of @RedEspecie

Nicolás Camargo Lescano

University Technician in Journalism (Universidad Nacional de La Matanza). Journalist of the science journalism Agency CTyS (Ciencia, Tecnología y Sociedad, UNLaM), since 2013. Producer and co-host of Ciencia Modulada (2017-2019) on Radio Universidad FM 89.1 (Secretariat of Communications Media of the UNLaM). Professor of Semiotics in Sports Journalism (UNLaM). Director of the journalistic site Entre tanta ciencia. Member of the Editorial Committee of the Journal of scientific popularization Catálisis (Ecuador). Member of EsPeCie, a group of journalists and public communicators of science and technology.

– Closing activity (María Victoria Ennis Nicolás Camargo Lescano)

Moderator: María Eugenia Fazio (Argentina). Graduate in Social Communication and PhD. in Philosophy. She is a research professor in public communication of science and technology at the National University of Quilmes (UNQ). He participated in the creation of the UNQ Science Communication Program, where he currently carries out scientific culture management activities.

2^nd Friday, September 10: Right to science: why science popularization is critical in LAC?

Speakers:

• Guillermo Anlló (Argentina): Economist from the Faculty of Economics, University of Buenos Aires and M.SC. in Science, Technology and Society of the Universidad Nacional de Quilmes, Argentina. Senior Programme Specialist, Science and Technology Policy and Capacity-Building, UNESCO Regional Office for Science in LAC. Specialist in Science, Technology and Innovation Policy, Bioeconomy and Innovation Indicators.
• Yurij Castelfranchi (Brazil). Doctor in Sociology of Science and Technology and professor at the Federal University of Minas Gerais, where he coordinates the InCiTe Observatory (Innovation, Citizenship, Techno-science) and the Specialization Course in Public Communication of Science – Amerek.
• Cecilia Rosen (Mexico). Science journalist in various Latin American media. PhD in Social Sciences from FLACSO Argentina, Master in Science Communication from Imperial College London and graduate in Communication Sciences from the Autonomous University of Mexico.
• Diego Golombek (Argentina). Doctor in Biology and scientific communicator. Teacher and researcher at the National University of Quilmes and senior researcher at CONICET. As a popularizer, he was a columnist for the program “Científicos Industria Argentina” (on National Public Television) and editor of the book collection “Ciencia que barks …”. In 2015, he was awarded the UNESCO Kalinga Prize for Popularization of Science. Executive Director at INET (Instituto Nacional de Educación Tecnológica, Ministry of Education, Argentina).

– Closing activity (María Victoria Ennis Nicolás Camargo Lescano)

Moderator: María Eugenia Conforti (Argentina). Ph. in Social and Human Sciences and associate researcher at CONICET, with work headquarters at the Institute of Archaeological and Paleontological Research of the Pampean Quaternary (INCUAPA-CCT CONICET TANDIL). Professor at the National University of the Center of the Province of Buenos Aires (UNICEN), where he also coordinates the Higher University Diploma in Public Communication of Science.

3^rd Friday, /September 17: BC-AD (Before COVID-19 and After COVID-19). Experiences, learnings, and re-significations of science with the pandemic
Speakers:

• Diana Rosa Schlachter Piñón (Cuba). Graduate in Journalism from the University of Havana. Journalist of the Information System of Cuban Television, in Prensa Latina, Agencia Informativa Latinoamericana S.A. Master in Social Studies of Science and Technology at the University of Havana. Director and scriptwriter of sections and TV programs.
• Soledad Gori (Argentina). PhD. in the area of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, Health Sciences. Researcher at CONICET and professor at the University of Buenos Aires. Coordinator and founder of the Science Anti Fake News group, which has been dedicated, since the beginning of the pandemic, to denying misinformation and fake news about the coronavirus.
• Aleida Rueda (Mexico). Master in News Agency Journalism from the Rey Juan Carlos University, of Spain. Graduated in Journalism from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). She is president of the Mexican Network of Science Journalists and a contributor to various media throughout Latin America.

– Closing activity (María Victoria Ennis Nicolás Camargo Lescano)

Moderator: Pablo Esteban (Argentina). Master in Sociology of Culture and Cultural Analysis and PhD candidate in Communication. He has worked as a science journalist for the newspaper Página 12 (Argentina) since 2013 and has edited the supplement “Futuro” for the same newspaper. Teacher and researcher at the National University of Quilmes, where he integrates the Science Communication Program. Member of the team of La Liga de la Ciencia (Argentina), a Television Program dedicated to scientific dissemination.

4^th Friday, September 24: Science through violet lenses. Popularize knowledge with a gender perspective
Speakers:

• Gloria Bonder (Argentina). Degree in Psychology. M.SC. in Gender and Education. UNESCO Regional Chair on Women, Science and Technology; GenderInSITE Regional Focal Point for Latin America and the Caribbean; Director of the Gender, Society and Policies Area of FLACSO Argentina (Latin American School of Social Sciences, Argentina).
• Lina Caballero Villalobos (Colombia). Doctor in Genetics and Molecular Biology. She is the founder and coordinator of the Colombian headquarters Parent in Science, a research group whose objective is to support researchers in the challenging reconciliation between motherhood and academia.

Panelists:

• Adriana Paez Pino (Colombia). Engineer and PhD in Education. Director of “Cátedra Abierta Latinoamericana Matilda y las Mujeres en Ingeniería”, Past President GEDC LATAM (Consejo Global de Decanas y Decanos de Ingeniería, de América Latina), Co-Founder en R9T Renovación y Transformación Profesional. Dean of the Exact Science and Engineering School at Sergio Arboleda University, President of the “Consorcio Latinoamericano y del Caribe de Instituciones de Ingeniería” (LACCEI).

• Patricia Rodil (México). Biotechnologist & entrepreneur. Former director of Mikros (a mexican health biotech company). Member of the Allbiotech Executive Committee and Founder of “Científicas Mexicanas” community, aimed at supporting women in sciences. Lic. Roldi experience in Molecular Biology, Clinical Research, 4P Medicine. Background in Biotechnology, lab experience, teaching experience. Actively participating in non-profit organisations, concerned about education, health, science and public policy.

– Closing activity (María Victoria Ennis Nicolás Camargo Lescano)

Moderator: Daniela Garanzini (Argentina). Ph. and graduate in Biology from the National University of Mar del Plata. Teacher at the National Technological University and graduated in Public Communication of Science (UNICEN) and in Comprehensive Sexual Education. Member of the communication team of the CONICET Mar del Plata Scientific Technological Center.

Coordinators:

María Victoria Ennis

Master in Journalism (UAM – El País, Spain), Diplomat in Public Communication of Science (UNICEN), Graduate in Social Communication (FACSO-UNICEN). Associate Professor of Scientific Journalism and Assistant graduate in Introduction to Journalism (FACSO-UNICEN, Journalism career). Host of Ciencia x Científicxs at AbraTV (UNICEN audiovisual platform), free lance science journalist at El País newspaper, Spain. Science columnist at Radio Universidad (90.1 UNICEN). Promoter at INTELYMEC (engineering research group on artificial intelligence, robotics and renewable energies of the FIO – UNICEN). Researcher at the Observatory of Media, Citizenship and Democracy (FACSO-UNICEN), external collaborator of the self – managing team Ciencia Anti Fake News (belonging to CONICET and in collaboration with Agencia Télam) and member of @RedEspecie

Nicolás Camargo Lescano

University Technician in Journalism (Universidad Nacional de La Matanza). Journalist of the science journalism Agency CTyS (Ciencia, Tecnología y Sociedad, UNLaM), since 2013. Producer and co-host of Ciencia Modulada (2017-2019) on Radio Universidad FM 89.1 (Secretariat of Communications Media of the UNLaM). Professor of Semiotics in Sports Journalism (UNLaM). Director of the journalistic site Entre tanta ciencia. Member of the Editorial Committee of the Journal of scientific popularization Catálisis (Ecuador). Member of EsPeCie, a group of journalists and public communicators of science and technology.