Science communication: toward a new researcher's identity

Researchers are increasingly called to communicate with society, not only to enhance public literacy, but also to behave as "agents of change", increasing the shared awareness about complex socio-ecological issues, such as soil fertility. However, the traditional approach to communication focused on transferring scientific contents often prevails, even when more participatory methods are formally embraced. Along with the message, though, ideas about science and the role of knowledge within society are communicated - expressly or, more frequently, tacitly. Furthermore, communication activities are rarely considered transformative of the identity and social role of researchers, as their experiences and values are often overlooked. To unravel the narratives at the interface of science and society, and support the development of researchers' awareness, the Italian research project BRIDGES (Building Reflexivity and Response-ability Involving Different narratives of knowledGE and Science) involved senior and young researchers in experimenting transdisciplinary and reflexive modes of knowledge production, applied to the socio-ecological topic of soil health. BRIDGES designed and facilitated communication and training activities enabling researchers to critically approach identities and practices: artistic workshops, webinars featuring conversations among diverse social actors and citizen science campaigns. One pivotal dimension of the BRIDGES' approach was the transformative potential of science communication when engaging researchers with other social actors in the definition and creative solution of common problems. The opening of researchers to an extended peer community, including stakeholders and non-formal knowledge networks, nurtures scientific research with new meanings, perspectives and priorities, which are essential to address and meaningfully communicate the complex and controversial socio-environmental challenges which we face today. Just as communication with the peer community is already recognized as essential to the identity of the researcher, so should public science communication be in the new context of an extended peer community that includes society as a whole.