Science Communication - European Trends and Polish Initiatives

The necessity of bringing science closer to society is better and better understood in the circle of Polish scientists. It has been also enclosed in documents defining future state science policy. In order to determine the range and quality of activities in the field of science communication undertaken in Poland, 'Osrodek Przetwarzania Informacji' has prepared a study of Polish initiatives against the background of French, British and German good practices. The comparison concerns such forms as science festivals, science centers, lectures and open door events, science popularization in mass media, science-media intermediaries and other, non-conventional ideas. The analysis has been completed with a survey conducted among Polish scientific units directors, focused on following questions: forms of science communication adapted by the institutions, opinions about respective forms, suggested directions of further development, whether or not the criterion of popularization should be included in the process of scientific career and evaluation of institutions, as well as barriers of successful popularization. The present article summarizes the most important conclusions gathered within the study.