23/07/2025

“Science is not separate from society”. Verónica Policarpo, Researcher at Instituto de Ciências Sociais, Universidade de Lisboa. 

ENCONTRO CIÊNCIA 2025

From July 9–11, the Ciência 2025 Conference (Portugal’s largest gathering for science and technology) brought researchers, policymakers, and innovators together. The event took place at the NOVA SBE campus in Carcavelos under the overarching theme “Science, Innovation and Society”. 

OPEN ROUNDTABLE

This theme and the session we organized alongside LARSyS and ICS, aligned seamlessly:  
“Diálogos Transdisciplinares em Tempos de Incerteza” (Transdisciplinary Dialogues in Times of Uncertainty). 

Moderated by Margarida Trinidade (LS4Future – ITQB NOVA), the session fostered an open and engaging dialogue around some of the most pressing challenges facing science today: misinformation, rising populism, climate and vaccine denialism, and the ethical implications of AI. 

In response, we invited three distinguished speakers, Isabel Rocha (LS4Future – ITQB NOVA), Verónica Policarpo (ICS), and Carlos A. Santos Silva (LARSyS – IST). The objective was to reflect on the current climate of uncertainty and distrust, and to explore science and innovation roles in responding to these challenges. 

OBSTACLES FOR SCIENCE TO REACH SOCIETY

A few key takeaways emerged from the discussion: 

• The oversaturation of information, combined with the lack of critical engagement, leaves many, particularly younger generations, disconnected from science.
• This disconnection is intensified by socioeconomic inequalities, which limit access to quality education and credible scientific knowledge.
• Moreover, our current fast-paced, hyper-competitive system often prioritises short-term gains over collaboration, reflection, and meaningful public engagement.

PROPOSED SOLUTIONS

As a result of this open conversation, several proposals for action from the institutions were made: 

1. Listen actively to society to understand their needs, especially to younger voices and marginalized communities. 
2. Embed scientists into policy processes, to ensure evidence-based decision-making at all stages. 
3. Communicate more clearly and transparently about scientific decisions and their societal implications, increasing trust in evidence-based decisions. 
4. Promote education and equity, in order to bridge the gap between science and society. 
5. Foster critical thinking as a core skill, hence equipping individuals to navigate misinformation and make informed choices. 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We are deeply grateful to our speakers and co-organisers for their insightful contributions and thoughtful reflections. Their expertise offered not just a critique of the present, but also a vision for a more informed, inclusive, and resilient relationship between science and society.

We also thank the audience that participated in this open discussion for their engagement.

https://app.encontrociencia.pt/session-details/15724

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