About the Symposium
The world is a global community that shares a common destiny for humanity. However, growing polarization and antagonism in today's world pose significant challenges to science communication. To address challenges such as artificial intelligence, misinformation, technological controversies, environment and health, and cultural variation, we invite you to exchange thoughts and effective practices on local or international science communication. We aim to explore and expand communication methods, broaden perspectives, and strengthen our sense of responsibility. In this way, we expect to bridge differences, alleviate confrontation, and rebuild spaces and platforms for fruitful dialogue among all parties involved in science communication.
Suzhou, a city mingling innovation and classics, is ready for the refreshing and sparkling conversation to renew our science communication community from October 17-19th, 2024. This time is also the most beautiful season in Suzhou Gardens.
The PCST Suzhou Symposium 2024 is organized by Soochow University (SU, Suzhou), jointly organized by the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC, Hefei). The Symposium has received support from the Chinese Society for Science and Technology Journalism, the Suzhou Association of Science and Technology, the Australian National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science (CPAS) at the Australian National University, journals of Public Understanding of Science, Science Communication and Journal of Science Communication.
Call for Submissions (Deadline: February 29th 2024)
The Symposium will be held in English. We warmly encourage diverse forms of participation, such as research articles, practical case studies, and popular science performances. If you are interested in contributing, we welcome proposals within the listed themes of 'Communicating Science across Cultures' in under 500 words. Contributions will be reviewed and the selected ones will be scheduled for onsite presentation. Some of the participants in the plenary roundtables will be selected based on the quality of the abstracts received.
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Plenary Special Roundtable
Culture of PCST: Insight dialogue about the past and future in promoting global science communication [Chair: Jennifer Metcalfe]
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Plenary Roundtable A and Parallel Session 1
Building science into creative cultures (including science culture, festivals, art, fiction, performance, etc) [Chair: Massimiano Bucchi]
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Plenary Roundtable B and Parallel Session 2
Communicating science for cohesive cultures (AI, big data, misinformation, environmental and health communication) [Chair: Hepeng Jia]
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Plenary Roundtable C and Parallel Session 3
Supporting science communicators for professional cultures (training, education, journalism, museum, etc) [Chair: Marina Joubert]
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Other Parallel Session
[Chair: Anne Dijkstra]Other contributions related to the theme of "communicating science across cultures are welcome as well. The specific topics for other parallel forums will be decided based on the submitted contributions.
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Academic Publishing Workshop
[co-organized by Public Understanding of Science and Science Communication]The workshop, which Hans Peter Peters and Janet Yang will host, focuses on how the top journals select the manuscripts that they publish. We will provide valuable and targeted advice to participants. To apply for the workshop, interested individuals are required to submit their abstract for screening. Then a full paper is required one month before the workshop. Following on-site presentations, participants will receive valuable feedback and comments from both the journal editors.
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Science performance*
Possibly arranged in Suzhou gardens
For the proposer of science performance, please communicate directly with Prof. Guoyan Wang (gywang@suda.edu.cn)
Time Table
Activities
- Call for proposal webpage release
- Proposal submission deadline
- Notify submission results
- Early Bird deadline
- Rolling Registration deadline
Dates
- December, 2023
- February 29th, 2024
- March 31st, 2024
- April 30th, 2024
- May 31st, 2024
| Activities | Dates |
|---|---|
| Call for proposal webpage release | December, 2023 |
| Proposal submission deadline | February 29th, 2024 |
| Notify submission results | March 31st, 2024 |
| Early Bird deadline | April 30th, 2024 |
| Rolling Registration deadline | May 31st, 2024 |
Registration
To attend the symposium, please register and submit a contribution here
If co-authors are involved in the submission, please provide their information in the attached Word file.
The symposium has a limited capacity for participants.
Highlights
Social event: Science in Gardens
(Reading concert in one of the classical Chinese gardens in Suzhou)
Person in Charge: Massimiano Bucchi and Guoyan Wang
Insight Roundtable
Culture of PCST: the Past and Future in Promoting Global Science Communication
Person in Charge: Jennifer Metcalfe
Academic Publishing Workshop
Person in Charge: Hans Peter Peters from Public Understanding of Science and Janet Yang from Science Communication
Venue
• Jinling Yado Hotel, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, China (No. 488 Sanxiang Road, Gusu District, Suzhou City)
Fees
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Early Bird: until April 30th, 2024
PCST members and students: 1200 RMB or 180 US Dollar incl. VAT
Non-members: 1800 RMB or 260 US Dollar incl. VAT
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Regular Registration: until June 30th, 2024
PCST members and students: 1800 RMB or 260 US Dollar incl. VAT
Non-members: 2400 RMB or 340 UUS Dollar incl. VAT
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Attendee Registration : until August 30th, 2024
(Mainly for those not presenting papers or participating in roundtable discussions,
PCST member only)
Fee: 800 RMB or 120 US Dollar incl. VAT
Note: *This fee does not include meals or access to the Science Garden activities.
If you require these, please select Early Bird or Regular Registration.
The fees will cover tuition, symposium materials, lunches in the cafeteria and social events. Participants will be responsible for covering their travel, accommodation and local transportation.
Organizing Committee
Anne M. Dijkstra
University of Twente, Co-Chair of PCST External Relations Committee, PCST life member
Guoyan Wang
PCST Scientific Committee Member, Director of the Science Communication Center at Soochow University, local organizer
Hepeng Jia
Deputy Director of the Science Communication Center at Soochow University, local organizer
Jennifer Metcalfe
Guest Professor at Soochow University; Visiting Fellow at Australian National University; life member and former president of PCST
Marina Joubert
Stellenbosch University, South Africa, PCST life member
Marlit Hayslett
Hayslett Consulting, Co-Chair of PCST External Relations Committee
Massimiano Bucchi
University of Trento, PCST life member
Rongting Zhou
Dean of the Department of Science Communication at University of Science and Technology of China
Sook-kyoung CHO
Korea Institute of Energy Technology, PCST President
Xuan Liu
National Academy of Innovation Strategy
About Soochow University
Soochow University is located in the historical and cultural city of Suzhou, often called a "heaven on earth". Suzhou enjoys convenient transportation, with only a half-hour high-speed train ride from Shanghai. Recognized as one of mainland China's top 20 universities, the university has been included into several state funding programs aiming to build the world leaders in higher education and S&T innovation. The Science Communication Center at Soochow University is composed of a team of 12 dedicated full-time faculty members and has harvested an amazing amount of top journal papers, research grants and prestigious awards. Professor Guoyan Wang and Professor Hepeng Jia are the founding leaders of the center.
