The Science Communication 360° conference will bring the Head of communications of the Max Planck Society

Experience with communication management of a leading world research institution, examples of good practice from top Czech scientists, as well as sharing and debates on how to remove obstacles in science communication. All this will be the focus of the Science Communication 360° conference, which will take place on February 5, 2026 at the Jinonice Campus. The conference is organised by the Czech Academy of Sciences, the Faculty of Social Sciences, Charles University, and the SciComHub platform.

How to communicate science in a turbulent time of social polarization and the spread of disinformation? Christina Beck, the conference's keynote speaker and head of the communications department at the German Max Planck Society, will offer insights from one of the world's most prestigious research institutions. She has held this position since 2015 – at an organisation that brings together 85 institutes, employs more than 21,000 people, operates with a budget of approximately €2 billion, and has been awarded six Nobel Prizes in the past five years.

The second keynote speaker will be Tomáš Koblížek from the Institute of Philosophy of the Czech Academy of Sciences, who focuses on topics such as hate speech, disinformation, propaganda, censorship and freedom of speech. “The main theme of the second year of the conference is Institutions and systems that strengthen science communication,” says Tereza Klabíková Rábová, Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Charles University. “Together, we will explore scenarios for creating an environment in which scientists can safely and meaningfully engage in communication without losing accuracy or expertise.”

Listening, sharing and interacting

The afternoon part of the conference will introduce a new format of discussion forums, in which approximately 160 participants will engage in constructive debates on how to improve the practice of science communication in the Czech Republic. “Through moderated discussion and joint brainstorming, we want to map the path from real obstacles to positive support scenarios that will be realistic and applicable,” adds Soňa Ehlerová, member of the Academic Council of the Czech Academy of Sciences responsible for presenting the results of the Czech Academy of Sciences and communicating with the public.

The Science Communication 360° conference has been prepared by the Czech Academy of Sciences, the Faculty of Social Sciences, Charles University, and the SciComHub platform of science communication professionals.

The second year of the conference will take place at the Jinonice Campus from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Participation is free of charge.

Although the conference capacity is already full, a livestream of the morning lectures by Christina Beck and Tomáš Koblížek, including the panel discussion moderated by Daniel Stach, will be available here.

Partners of the Science Communication 360° conference include the IOCB Tech Foundation and the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Prague.

Media contact:

Markéta Růžičková
Czech Academy of Sciences
press@avcr.cz

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