PCST 2012

18-20 April 2012
Florence, Italy

12th International Public Communication of Science and Technology Conference
Quality, Honesty and Beauty in Science Communication

The 12th International PCST (Public Communication of Science and Technology) Conference will be held in Florence, Italy, 18-20 April 2012.

PCST 2012 is organised by the PCST International Network and hosted by Observa Science in Society, Fondazione Giannino Bassetti, Galileo Museum Florence and INAF National Institute for Astrophysics.

The PCST International Network and the Italian conference hosts have pleasure in inviting you to submit proposals for presentations at this major event.

Proposals are welcome for presentations on science communication and science in society research, science journalism, science museums, public engagement with science and technology and communication activities by research institutions.

The deadline for proposals is 00:00 (GMT+1) of 15th October, 2011. Submitted proposals will be reviewed by members of PCST Scientific Committee, and the final programme will be announced in January 2012.

Submissions should include:

• a description of your proposed paper or session in no more than 2500 characters including spacing;
• the proposed format: a paper, discussion, poster etc. A list of possible formats is below;
• your contact details;
• author's data including affiliations;
• type of presentation: audio-video-power point;

To view the abstracts you submitted, please go to "Abstract Submission"

General information
All successful proposals will be notified by November 30, 2011. Papers will only be added to the program when the speakers have registered for the conference.

Reduced fees will be available for early registrants and students.

Plenary speeches will be delivered by leading international experts in science communication research and practice.

The official language of the conference is English. For further details and practical information please go to "Registration" and "Accommodation"

Themes
The overall theme of the conference is Quality, Honesty and Beauty in Science Communication. Proposals are especially invited on themes such as

• What does quality mean in science communication?
• Evaluating public communication of science
• The art of communicating science
• Ethics and Responsibility in Science Communication
• Aesthetics of Science Communication

Other themes of interest are:

• Communicating the Social Sciences
• Reflexive challenges: Communicating PCST
• Public Communication of Technology: the 'Cinderella' of PCST?
• Professionalisation and career models in science communication
• Science centres as forums for communicating controversial science

As always at PCST conferences, proposals are also welcome that address:

• Emerging trends and issues in science communication
• Changing media, changing formats, changing science communication models?

Formats
Proposers are asked to nominate a presentation format from the following list:

• Panel sessions/roundtable discussions (3-4 papers/contributions that tackle a key theme from different angles, with an international perspective).
• Individual papers (these will be arranged in thematically linked sessions)
• Posters (these will be presented orally as well as being displayed)
• Speakers' Corner (5-minute presentations + 5-minute discussions of an experience, activity or argument relevant to science communication)*
• Performances (dramatisations of issues, debates or controversies relevant to science communication)*
• Show, Tell and Talk (demonstrations of science communication practices with commentary on their application and effectiveness; these will be arranged in thematically linked sessions and feedback will be provided by experienced and qualified mentors. Some will be selected for recognition as 'Best Practice')

*= power point free session formats

Important dates and deadlines

00:00 (GMT+1) of October 15th, 2011: deadline for proposal submissions

November 30th, 2011: confirmation of proposal acceptance and draft Conference Programme announcement

December 20th, 2011: early and presenters registration deadline

January, 2012: Final Conference Programme announcement