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Institutional support for science communication, new approaches to popularisation, and clear communication between scientists and journalists were the main topics of the second annual Komunikace vědy 360° conference. The event took place on Thursday, February 5, 2026, at the Faculty of Social Sciences of Charles University in Prague. It brought together experts in PR, science popularisation, and media communication from the Czech Academy of Sciences (CAS), Czech universities, and the Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAS). Daniel Stach moderated the conference.

The SAS was represented by Members of the Presidium Pavol Siman and Martin Nosko, who also participated in a panel discussion on institutional support for science communication. Other participants from the SAS included Silvia Múčková, PR Manager at the Institute of Materials and Machine Mechanics (ÚMMS SAS), Alena Opálková Šišková, Scientific Secretary at ÚMMS SAS, and Katarína Gáliková, Head of the Communication and PR Department.

The morning programme featured two keynote lectures. The first was delivered by Christina Beck, Head of Communications at the Max Planck Society, responsible for science communication, public relations, and corporate communications. In her lecture, "From Ivory Tower to Newsfeed: Rethinking the Functions of Science Communication," she highlighted the challenges posed by social media algorithms for content creators.

According to Beck, building smaller, engaged online communities is emerging as a promising new direction for science communication. She also stressed the importance of direct, personal contact between scientists and the public at events. As an example of innovative outreach, she mentioned organising lectures in smaller towns without universities, where citizens otherwise have limited access to public science events.

She further noted that the Max Planck Society is currently focusing on communicating specific topics that strongly resonate with society. The organisation also seeks regular and intensive media coverage to draw policymakers' attention to its research outputs and proposed solutions.

"From Christina Beck's very first words, I realised that the often-used slogan 'Science has no boundaries' encounters challenges, especially in the field of science communication. We are increasingly discovering that science communication itself faces barriers. Social media algorithms, which once allowed us to share our results widely, are now limiting our reach or making it more costly. Our own technologies and

profit-driven platforms are restricting communication channels. This compels us to seek new opportunities and, above all, to present our research through personal contact – bringing it closer to society, even in regions where we might not expect immediate enthusiasm," said Pavol Siman, Member of the Presidium of the Slovak Academy of Sciences.

The second keynote speaker was Tomáš Koblížek, a science communicator and researcher at the Department of Analytical Philosophy at the Institute of Philosophy of the Czech Academy of Sciences. His work focuses on topics at the intersection of philosophy of language, philosophy of art, ethics, and political philosophy, including hate speech, disinformation, propaganda, controversial artworks, censorship, and freedom of expression.

Drawing on his personal experience communicating Science in a polarised society, he described a profound shift that has begun to affect the popularisation of Science in recent years. Scientists increasingly face hate speech, threats, and online harassment. As he pointed out, populist and far-right political movements – whose identity partly relies on questioning scientific facts – also contribute to this environment. In such a climate, science communication is no longer solely about sharing knowledge but also about defending Science itself. (A video recording of the lectures is available at the end of the article.)

The programme continued with smaller-group discussions and workshops, offering space for sharing good practices and practical inspiration. In a panel discussion on institutional support for science communication, moderator Filip Rambousek spoke with Halina Jílková, Head of Communication at CEITEC MUNI; Peter Caletka, Communications and PR Specialist at the Institute of Experimental Medicine of the Czech Academy of Sciences; and Martin Nosko, Member of the SAS Presidium responsible for science popularisation and communication. The discussion highlighted the crucial role of internal PR professionals, who provide expert support to researchers in science outreach, media relations, and institutional promotion.

Participants from the Slovak Academy of Sciences particularly appreciated the event's format, which went beyond passive listening and created space for open discussion of concrete challenges in science communication.

"During the conference, I realised three key insights that we in the academic community should embrace. My first 'aha moment' was understanding that Science without communication remains virtually invisible to the public. We may achieve excellent results, but if we cannot communicate them effectively, their societal impact is negligible. At the same time, I realised that clarity does not mean trivialisation. Our goal

is not to oversimplify Science but to make it accessible. Finally, I was reminded that the best ideas emerge not in isolation but at the intersection of different – often unrelated – worlds. I also learned more about decentralised platforms such as Bluesky, Mastodon, and AuthentiSci as alternatives to Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. This inspired me to explore these platforms more actively for communicating my research," summarised Alena Opálková Šišková.

"Although we operate in different countries, we discovered that we face similar challenges. I was particularly struck by the idea that science communication is not limited to formal press releases and academic articles. To be successful, it must take place wherever people gather – on social media, at public events, and in schools – where Science can be presented through compelling stories. It is equally important to show how Science is conducted, who the people behind it are, and why it matters for society. Science must not remain behind laboratory and office doors; otherwise, it risks being misunderstood by the public," added Silvia Múčková.

Both participants agreed that similar events would be highly beneficial for researchers in the Slovak academic environment.

The Czech Academy of Sciences organised the Science Communication 360° conference in cooperation with the Faculty of Social Sciences of Charles University, the SCICom HUB platform, and the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Prague.

Text and photo: Katarína Gáliková