From 2022, with the appointment of the replacement Chair, Prof. Mehita Iqani, the research agenda aims to build on the important achievements of the previous Chair. Having established significant work that maps out key theoretical and applied aspects of science communication research in South Africa, the next chapter of work will also seek to explore “science communication for social justice”.
Under this research agenda, the focus will be on action-research best practice science communication projects, with a special affordance to the possibilities offered by creative modalities, and communications research on social justice issues to which science is central, specifically: 1) climate and the environment, including topics such as urban sustainability, renewable energy and activism; 2) health and happiness, including topics such as vaccine cultures, eco-anxiety, waste and pollution; 3) equity and inequality, integrating race and gender in the scientific public, ethical consumption and rural communities.
Please check back regularly as we update our website with ongoing projects contributing to this research agenda.