With panels, workshops, clinics and discussion tables, the UNR launched a new edition of COPUCI, the main national and international meeting dedicated to the public communication of science and technology.
The tenth edition of the International Congress on Public Communication of Science and Technology (COPUCI), one of the leading events in Latin America for discussing the link between science, communication, and society, began this Wednesday. The event, organized by the Universidad Nacional de Rosario Together with the Government of the Province of Santa Fe, it is being held until May 15 at the Faculty of Political Science and International Relations and brings together researchers, teachers, students, communicators and professionals from the scientific-technological system.
The official opening was led by the Secretary of the Area of Science, Technology and Innovation for Development of the UNR, Elena Gasparri; the Minister of Productive Development of Santa Fe, Gustavo Puccini; the President of the Municipal Council of Rosario, María Eugenia Schmuck; the Dean of the Faculty of Political Science and International Relations, Cintia Pinillos; and the President of the Student Center of the Faculty, Lucía Amado.
During the opening ceremony, Elena Gasparri highlighted the growth of the congress since its first edition in Rosario in 2013. “Today, as we inaugurate the tenth edition, we can emphasize its development, the number of activities, and its commitment to public science,” she noted. She also stressed the importance of maintaining these kinds of events in the current context: “This congress is one of those initiatives worth sustaining at a particularly difficult time for the Argentine university system.”
The official also explained that this edition aims to highlight the value of institutional spaces dedicated to the management of scientific communication and to promote new discussions within the field. “There are new actors and new practices that lead us to question concepts we once considered absolute and to engage in dialogue with them,” she stated. In this context, she also emphasized the inclusion of artificial intelligence as one of the topics at COPUCI 2026: “One of our first actions was to propose implementing a workshop on artificial intelligence and science communication.”
For his part, Gustavo Puccini defended the strategic role of education and scientific development. “Nothing is more timely than communicating science,” the minister stated, adding that “it seems illogical to be debating whether science and education are an investment or an expense.”
Regarding the national scenario, he stated: “Here, science is not cut, it is strengthened,” and emphasized that Santa Fe promotes policies aimed at linking scientific knowledge with productive development.
In turn, María Eugenia Schmuck celebrated Rosario's return as host of the congress and emphasized the role of science in shaping public policy. "Rosario is a university and scientific city, growing exponentially with nationally and internationally recognized figures," she stated. She also linked the start of the meeting to the ongoing demands for increased university and scientific funding: "Clearly, the national government doesn't understand the importance of education and science, which build essential bridges for solving our country's problems."
Dean Cintia Pinillos thanked the representatives from various universities for their presence and emphasized the importance of these collective spaces. “These gatherings are what keep us going during these difficult times for the university system,” she noted. She also recalled the third edition of the congress held in Rosario and highlighted its growth: “I remember that congress in 2013, which was only its third edition, and if I compare it to this one, it’s clear that science communication has become a central theme in knowledge building. This forum demonstrates the enormous strength of our country’s scientific system.”
Finally, Lucía Amado celebrated student participation in the event and the international nature of this edition. “As a Social Communication student, it is a joy to welcome you to this enormous congress,” she expressed. She also highlighted the presence of more than one hundred students from different countries and maintained that “science communication is a tool that serves to showcase and involve society in everything we produce within the University.”
Over the three days, the event features panel discussions, poster presentations, audiovisual and sound productions, as well as workshops, clinics, and special activities. One of the central themes of this edition is the need to strengthen institutional areas dedicated to scientific communication in universities and research organizations.
Among the highlights of the program are the special panels scheduled for each day. The first of these, “Communicating Science as Institutional Management,” took place this Wednesday afternoon with the participation of Bárbara Bercovic, Sebastián Bosch, María Eugenia López, and María Soledad Casasola, under the coordination of Elena Gasparri.
The activities will continue this Thursday, with a highlight being the panel “Communicating Science from the Bottom of the Sea,” focusing on the joint scientific expedition between the Schmidt Ocean Institute and the Argentine Deep-Sea Studies Group (GEMPA-CONICET “Talud IV”). The congress will conclude on Friday with “Other Ways of Telling History,” dedicated to exploring new formats and platforms for disseminating historical knowledge.
Journalist: Gonzalo J. García / Photographers: Karen Roeschlin – Ramiro Ortega