Joining efforts to improve Science Communication and Science Education - a new Austrian partnership project

According to various recent studies, Austrian citizens have a lower interest in science and are less likely to belief in the benefits of science and technology than the average EU citizen. Limited trust and interest in science are closely linked to a lack of knowledge of the research process and scientifically generated data. Projects and networks at the interface of science and education provide an excellent opportunity to develop innovative ways of science communication, raise scientific literacy and influence the attitude towards scientific findings positively. Thus, scientists from several disciplines, educators, and administrative authorities teamed up to form the partnership “Interdisciplinary network for science education Lower Austria (INSE)”, led by WasserCluster Lunz and funded by GFF NÖ. Our partnership aims at (i) raising school students’ and the public’s understanding of science by demonstrating and involving them into the scientific process of different scientific disciplines, (ii) increasing the interest in science by using innovative forms of science communication, and (iii) strengthening the belief in the benefits of science by highlighting the contributions of science to existing and emerging societal and ecological challenges.  We will present our partnership project, show examples of concepts for science education and science communication, and hope to initiate contact with other (inter)national partners (e.g. interested scientists from other disciplines, existing networks for science communication…) to strengthen and expand our partnership network.