The Living Handbook of Science Communication and Science Studies is to present relevant concepts, topics, theories, and results related to the development of the science system and to make them accessible to different audiences. In this way, knowledge produced across the boundaries of science communication research, science studies, and cultural studies will be embedded in public discourse to a much greater extent than before.
The Living Handbook is the centerpiece of the RRC’s transfer strategy. Its main purpose is to make explicit the wealth of tacit knowledge about science communication and the science system. The Living Handbook functions like an open-access encyclopedia, taking advantage of linking practices to provide clear-cut answers on how science is working. It is intended to become the central information platform for relevant questions about the science system for science policy makers, science journalists, science communicators, and students, as well as for the interested public. In contrast to a traditional handbook, each article conveys a clearly defined topic, either in written form or with multimedia support, aimed at the general public or addressing the interdisciplinary community with in-depth peer-reviewed articles (1 – 5 pages).
The Living Handbook will soon invite submissions on topics such as journal impact factor, pre-prints or retractions. An international panel of reviewers (including communication practitioners) will ensure the quality of the platform as well as its design, attractiveness and impact.
Each contribution will be published under a CC license in accordance with the principles of Open Science, thanks to the cooperation with the University Library of the Technical University of Dortmund and Publisso (ZB MED)
Contents of the Living Handbook
Communicating
- Internal vs. external science communication
- Public lecture
- Public relations
- Science communication design
- Science journalism
- Scientific policy advice
- …
Datafying
- Academic social network sites
- Artificial intelligence
- Big data research
- Digital archives
- Digital humanities
- …
Disinforming/misinforming
- Fake (science) news
- Post truth politics
- Predatory journals
- Scientific fraud
- …
Evaluating
- Bibliometric indicators
- H-index
- Matilda effect
- Matthew effect
- Quality criteria
- Scientific awards
- …
Funding
- Funding bodies
- Funding formats
- Funding policies
- Peer review (grant application)
- …
Organising
- Academic administration
- Collaborative research
- Competition between HEIs
- Higher education systems
- Non-university research universities
- …
Publishing
- Journal article
- Journal impact factor
- Peer-review (manuscripts)
- Monography Preprints
- Proceedings paper
- Scholarly journals
- …
Qualifiying
- Academic career paths
- Academic titles
- Act of academic fixed term contract (WissZeitVG)
- Hiring committees
- …
Researching
- Citizen science
- Conflict of interest
- Disciplines
- Good scientific practice
- Research gap
- Scientific study
- Values and norms
- Epistemic Cultures
- …
Teaching
- Academic freedom
- Diversity, equity and inclusion
- Exams
- Fields of study
- Lecture and seminar
- Online learning
- Teaching obligations
- …
If you are interested in contributing to one of the proposed topics or want to suggest another contribution, please send a short email to the RRC to discuss the details.