The 10th International Congress on Public Communication of Science and Technology will take place from May 13 to 15 with a focus on the comprehensive and reciprocal relationship between science and society.
La Universidad Nacional de RosarioTogether with the Government of the Province of Santa Fe, the organization is hosting the tenth edition of the International Congress on Public Communication of Science and Technology (COPUCI). The event will take place from May 13 to 15 at the Faculty of Political Science and International Relations and will bring together leading figures from various institutions across the country and the region.
COPUCI 2026 established itself as a benchmark space for the exchange of theoretical, methodological and practical contributions on scientific communication, with special emphasis on the role played by universities, organizations of the scientific system and entities such as CONICET and INTA in the construction of public communication policies and their social and political impact.
Elena Gasparri, Secretary of the Science, Technology, and Innovation for Development Area at the National University of Rosario (UNR), noted that this national and international congress “has become a benchmark forum that fosters the exchange and consolidation of ideas.” “This year we sought to strengthen a network of studies and experiences, promoting scientific culture at the national and international levels. We received more than 300 papers from 12 countries and significant federal participation with contributions from across Argentina,” she emphasized.
For her part, María Soledad Casasola, head of the Science Communication Department at UNR, explained that this meeting space “contributes to strengthening study networks and promoting debate between new and experienced actors —students, the scientific community and professionals—, directly favoring the social appropriation of knowledge.”
“Science communication practices also enable reflection on scientific work itself. This is essential in a context where scientific practices are at the center of discussions that demand building resistance and defenses to guarantee their continuity. Science communication thus acquires a role that goes beyond the strictly communicative and projects itself as a political, scientific, ideological, and social horizon,” Gasparri emphasized.
He also added that the Universidad Nacional de Rosario One of its pillars is the strengthening of scientific development. “This University has for years upheld a premise from which many of its management policies derive: science communication transforms and enriches research practices themselves by connecting them with society. Therefore, this congress not only strengthens scientific communication but also invites us to rethink research itself,” he stated.
The theme of this edition proposes to revalue institutional spaces for science management and communication as a key strategy in the current context. During the three days, there will be training sessions, debates, and meetings among students, teachers, researchers, and professionals from the science and technology system, with a special emphasis on cooperation between academic and governmental stakeholders.
“The main institutional challenge of the congress arises from a context in which scientific practices are undergoing discussions and defunding processes that demand the establishment of resistance and defense mechanisms to ensure their continuity. At the same time, this edition proposes to review and re-examine concepts that we often take for granted. In addition, several presentations will address the incorporation of emerging technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence, into everyday communication practices,” Casasola explained.
The Congress brings together leading figures from the national and international spheres, strengthening a line of work in scientific communication that has grown steadily in recent years. “International and federal participation provides fundamental perspectives to enhance professional exchange and, above all, to build situated communication that responds to the realities of our region. It allows us to discuss how scientific communication develops in the face of territorial and media inequalities and how networks are articulated throughout Latin America,” Casasola emphasized.
On the other hand, Gasparri asserted that considering science communication as a management strategy “means betting on a more open university, more reflective about its own role, and more committed to the collective construction of meaning in the public sphere.” Furthermore, he maintained that addressing science communication in the Universidad Nacional de Rosario "It does not imply adding another function to those already existing, but rather redefining the way in which the University is linked to society."
The Congress will last three days and a large turnout is expected. “COPUCI is aimed at students, teachers, and interested individuals involved in the fields of communication, education, journalism, audiovisual production, museology, as well as scientific and technological research and development. We are very pleased with the initial registrations and hope that it will generate very enriching exchange opportunities,” Gasparri stated.
A content-packed agenda
The event will combine oral presentations organized by thematic areas, poster sessions, and audiovisual and sound productions. There will also be special talks, specialized clinics, workshops, and a play area. Activities will take place over three days, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
In addition, there will be three special panels, one per day, which will delve into different topics and will feature prominent guests.
The first event will be held on Wednesday, May 13th at 4:00 PM, under the title “Science Communication as Institutional Management.” The panel will bring together managers and specialists to analyze science communication as a strategic component of institutional management. They will address strategies for territorial coordination, the sustainability of public communication policies, and the professionalization of the field. Participants will include Bárbara Bercovic, a graduate in Biotechnology; Sebastián Bosch, a museologist and specialist in management and museography; María Eugenia López, a biologist; and María Soledad Casasola. Elena Gasparri will moderate the event.
On Thursday the 14th at 16 pm, the event “Communicating Science from the Bottom of the Sea” will take place. This program invites participants to reflect, alongside key figures from the joint scientific expedition of the Schmidt Ocean Institute (SOI) and the Argentine Deep Sea Studies Group (GEMPA-CONICET “Talud IV”), on the various communication processes associated with this unprecedented and historic scientific campaign. The panel will be moderated by Natalia Fernandez Baez.
Finally, on Friday the 15th at 16 pm, “Other Ways of Telling History” will take place, a space for reflection on new languages and platforms for communicating historical knowledge. Participants will include Dr. Camila Perochena, journalist Natalia Pettinari, and Kevin Dolce.
How to participate?
COPUCI invites students, teachers and graduates linked to communication, education, journalism, audiovisual production, museology, research and scientific-technological development.
COPUCI, which has been held uninterrupted in Argentina since 2011, will celebrate its 10th edition in 2026. More information at: https://copuci.wordpress.com/
Journalist: Gonzalo J. García/ Photography: Camila Casero.