SKAO to host international science communication conference

News
by Anim van Wyk on 18 March 2022
The SKAO Global Headquarters will play host to the fourth edition of the Public Awareness of Research Infrastructures (PARI) conference later this year. The hands-on conference brings together public relations practitioners, science communicators, educators, and researchers working for and with research infrastructures to exchange best practices and lessons learned in communicating science to the public.
PARI Poster

The conference will explore key themes of interest for research facilities such as emerging trends in science communication, misinformation, the role and impact of research infrastructures in society as well as community-building and education, and the impact of COVID-19 on science communication.

Organised by the European Association of National Research Facilities (ERF-AISBL), PARI has previously been hosted twice at the European Southern Observatory (ESO) in Garching, Germany, and at the STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory​ in Oxfordshire, UK.

This year the PARI conference will be held as a hybrid event for the first time, hosted both in-person at the SKAO Global Headquarters near Manchester, UK, and online to allow maximum participation. The format builds on the success of the SKAO’s 2021 science meeting that was held virtually. Hundreds of participants took part from across the globe, including many who would not have travelled otherwise.

Held from Monday 18 to Wednesday 20 July, PARI 2022 will coincide with the returning bluedot festival at Jodrell Bank from Thursday 21 to Sunday 24 July. A music, science and culture event, bluedot attracts thousands of visitors to the UNESCO World Heritage site over a weekend each year. A unique example of science outreach and public engagement, the event combines music, live science experiments, expert talks and immersive artworks to engage audiences.

For more information about PARI 2022 and to receive updates about the conference, visit https://skao.eventsair.com/pari2022. As bluedot festival tickets usually sell out fast, participants interested in staying the weekend should book their tickets and accommodation as soon as possible.