معرفی
Ionica Smeets is a Professor and Chair of the Science Communication and Society research group at Leiden University’s Faculty of Science. She also leads the Dutch National Centre of Expertise on Science & Society (NEWS), focusing on bridging gaps between scientific experts and the public. Her work emphasizes participatory science communication, societal engagement, and addressing challenges in public understanding of complex scientific topics like quantum technology, pandemic health messaging, and biodiversity conservation.
Her research spans science communication strategies, STEM education outreach, and the societal impact of science. Notable projects include evaluating citizen science participation, analyzing media portrayals of science (e.g., quantum technology, climate change), and designing educational tools like math trails for high school students. Smeets collaborates with journalists, educators, and policymakers to improve communication practices, such as reducing misleading data visualizations and enhancing public trust through dialogue.
Her publications highlight themes like pandemic video communication effectiveness, gender disparities in scientific comprehension, and framing strategies in press releases. She also engages in public-facing roles, writing for de Volkskrant, creating photo comics for New Scientist, and presenting science TV shows. Her interdisciplinary approach integrates insights from communication science, education, and cognitive psychology.
