Horizon Europe (HORIZON.4.2 – Reforming and enhancing the European R&I System)
01/04/2023 – 31/03/2027
(48 months)
Now, more than ever, it’s crucial to ensure effective science communication. Despite the growing accessibility of verifiable knowledge, recent events such as the COVID-19 pandemic, climate emergency, and spread of misinformation have highlighted a disconnect between scientific practice and public understanding. This is undermining policy responses and fueling distrust among citizens.
COALESCE builds the European Competence Centre for Science Communication, consolidating knowledge, tools and communities to improve how science is communicated and engaged with across Europe. The project brings together universities, SMEs, journalist networks, science centres and civil society to co-create practical standards, resources and training that make science communication more effective, inclusive and evidence-based. It also pilots rapid mobilisation approaches for crisis contexts, tackling misinformation and strengthening public trust.
The Competence Centre works as a virtual platform connected to a network of national and regional hubs. Alongside this, a SciComm Academy provides learning pathways for researchers, journalists and practitioners. Together, these elements create a focal point for collaboration, peer learning and capacity building, ensuring that best practice is shared, tested and scaled across diverse settings.
Stickydot helps define what “excellence” looks like for the Competence Centre by co-developing clear quality criteria and a seal of excellence to guide curation and reuse of resources. We co-lead the community building efforts, mapping the ecosystem, recruiting Communities of Practice and designing engagement strategies so that users actively shape the Centre’s services.
We also lead the “case clinics” with science museums, festivals and artistic networks. These are hands-on exchanges where practitioners and researchers bring real challenges and work through solutions using mini idea‑thons. In parallel, we contribute to co-designing the open library of handbooks and tools and to initiatives that better connect generalist journalists with reliable sources and training.
By the end of the project, COALESCE will have established a functioning Competence Centre with an accessible library of resources, a SciComm Academy and an active network of hubs. Shared criteria of excellence, matchmaking tools and tested training modules will help organisations plan, evaluate and improve their communication practice.
Longer term, the Centre will support rapid, coordinated responses in times of crisis, stronger connections between science and society, and a more confident, well-equipped community of practitioners. This will leave Europe with a sustainable home for evidence‑based science communication. One that supports quality, inclusiveness and trust.
Annele comes from a background in Behavioural Biology and Development Studies with a major in Human Geography. She brings an interdisciplinary approach to public engagement, bridging natural sciences and social science perspectives to find creative solutions and ideas.
At Stickydot, Annele is exploring how citizens, policymakers, researchers, and civil society can co-create knowledge and shape more inclusive approaches together. She supports project coordination and research, while continuing to contribute to the team’s communications and engagement activities.
