As more and more sources of information challenge us both individually and as a society, opinion and decision-making processes are disturbed by information noise; both intentionally and unintentionally. Since a key purpose of science communication is to empower critical thinking and informed discussions, science communication quality controls are important to help the public, as well as the scientific community, distinguish flawed reporting and incorrect information from rigorous research and reliable content.
In the Quality and Purpose section of the ISSCS 2021 Declaration on the Future of Science Communication (created at the Summer School “Communicating Science” funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and organized by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation and Wissenschaft im Dialog) one specific recommendation for science communication quality control was to create a way for people to easily distinguish trustworthy sources of information from untrustworthy ones.
This leads to one of ISASC’s goals: To create and issue an easily recognizable and reviewable “stamp” of validation for science communication content creators so that science communication consumers can quickly and confidently gauge the trustworthiness of their source of information. Participation in this program will help the content creators reach a broad audience of interested consumers, as well as provide access to other ISASC benefits like collaboration with other ISASC members (scientists, artists, journalists, etc.). This includes access to the lab’s and time of active scientists for demonstrations/interviews/explanations for the sci-commer’s content. The criteria governing the “stamp” and a list of participating “stamped” creators will be publicly reviewable through the ISASC website.