Paper short abstract:

Discuss the opportunities and challenges in terms of equitable practices and processes arising from the work of Cartas com Ciência, a science communication non-profit working in 8 Portuguese-speaking countries in 4 continents to use science as a vehicle for reduction of inequalities.

Paper long abstract:

With the growth of science communication initiatives there is an urgent need to systematically and rigorously reflect on practices, discuss and find new solutions to the challenges related with power and perpetuating inequalities. It is therefore necessary to identify what impacts on and serves equitable science communication, having in mind that disadvantaged communities are not fairly represented, nor is their knowledge fairly valued and taking into account a global perspective of different contexts, countries, cultural clusters. In the case of the Portuguese language, spoken by over 250 million people, science communication is considered an asset in the access to science and knowledge. It is important not to forget historical relations of colonialism that can reproduce structural inequalities and to combat neo-colonialist attitudes, biases and "saviour" complexes. This contribuiton aims to discuss the opportunities and challenges arising from the work of Cartas com Ciência (“Letters with Science”), a science communication non-profit working in 8 Portuguese-speaking countries in 4 continents to use science as a vehicle for reduction of inequalities, which aims to design and implement programmes according to equitable and socially just practices and based on scientific research. Since 2020, Cartas com Ciência has facilitated educational programmes of letter exchanges between over 500 pairs of pupil-scientists in Portuguese-speaking countries. By discussing critically within an equity and social justice lens what has and has not been accomplished regarding the processes and practices, this contribution’s tentative conclusions aim to foster more equitable and critically informed science communication.

MRPA supported by FCT UIDB/00194/2020, BIPD/UI57/10732/2023.