July, 2023

July, 2023

We introduce you to remarkable news from July! The ISEED team met for the 2nd time in person in Barcelona, our Polish partners present insights from their media on Green Transition and lastly, we announce details on the upcoming episodes of our Webinar Series! 

Events

Successful ISEED Project Meeting in Barcelona

We are delighted to share the news that the recent ISEED project meeting in Barcelona was a resounding success. Gema Revuelta and Carolina Llorente had the privilege of hosting the event at the Studies Centre on Science, Communication, and Society of the Universitat Pompeu Fabra (CCS-UPF). This meeting represented a significant milestone in ISEED’s ongoing mission to shape the future of democracy. 

The meeting primarily focused on project scalability and engaging discussions about the future of democracy. Attendees had the opportunity to hear from project leader Eleonora Montuschi and her team from Ca’ Foscari University of Venice (UNIVE), who presented compelling scenarios for the future of democracy. These scenarios sparked insightful conversations with stakeholders, exploring avenues for increased citizen participation and constructive dialogue. 

But the journey doesn’t stop there! The valuable insights gained from these discussions will serve as the foundation for the upcoming National Workshops, led by Adriana Dimova from ARC Foundation. These workshops, scheduled for the autumn of 2023, will be hosted in Poland, Italy, Spain, France, Uruguay, and Bulgaria. They will provide a unique platform for citizens, experts, and policymakers to collaboratively shape recommendations for the future of democracy and citizen engagement in science.

Let’s continue shaping the future together! 

Research

Insights on Green Transition Discourse in Polish Media

Our recent analysis sheds light on the discourse surrounding the green transition in Polish media outlets and Twitter. Here’s what we discovered:

  1. The analysis revealed a balanced discourse in Polish media, with no significant differences in sentiment and emotions across outlets and key terms. The energy transition topic generates substantial interest beyond the context of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, particularly in relation to constructing a nuclear power plant. 
  1. The media discourse on green transition in Poland is moderately politicized, with references to national politics and the European Union. Both supportive and critical voices regarding actions for introducing changes are represented. 
  1. The discourse strongly resonates with a national perspective, especially regarding decarbonization. Given Poland’s reliance on coal mining, this emphasis is not surprising. However, we did not observe significant polarization in the discourse. 
  1. Our analysis revealed a potential for polarization due to negative emotions, albeit subdued compared to social media. A twitter analysis showed higher polarization levels, with Polish politicians as prominent narrators using emotional content. 
  1. The construction of a nuclear power station emerged as a polarizing topic in both media and Twitter discussions. Other frequent keywords included “Germany,” “France,” “Polish Oil Company,” “pressure,” and “EU,” reflecting debates on the conflict between Poland and the EU regarding the Green Deal. 

These findings provide valuable insights into the green transition discourse in Poland. While the discourse on traditional media remains balanced and less polarized, higher polarization levels are present on social media. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for fostering constructive dialogue and informed decision-making. 

Action

ISEED Webinar Series: Inclusion, Science & Democracy: New Upcoming Episodes!

We are thrilled to announce the upcoming episodes of our ISEED Webinar Series, titled “Inclusion, Science & Democracy.” These webinars provide a platform to explore the intersection of these important topics and delve into related subjects. Our goal is to align the talks with ISEED’s research on Inclusion, Science, and Democracy, fostering a deeper understanding of their interconnectedness. 

Save the Date! Episodes 2 and 3 will take place in September 2023. In these episodes, we will have the privilege of diving into the world of the Ceibal Institution. It is Uruguay’s digital technology center for educational innovation, dedicated to supporting public education policies. They are pioneers in integrating technology to enhance learning outcomes and promote innovation, inclusion, and personal growth. 

Why it Matters? These episodes will shed light on the crucial role of education in citizenship, civic engagement, and youth participation. By exploring the work of Ceibal, we will gain insights into how education can empower individuals to become active and informed citizens, driving positive change in their communities.

Stay tuned for more updates on our ISEED Webinar Series, including the exact dates and speakers for these exciting episodes! 

Text: Carolina Llorente
Editors: Carolina Llorente, Sarah Santos, Sophia Efstathiou. 
Last updated: 12/07/202
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