Public & Science Sweden is contributing as a national expert in the new Mutual Learning Exercise (MLE) on Science Communication in Research & Innovation (R&I). The exercise is organised by the EU COALESCE project, which is establishing the European Competence Centre for Science Communication.
In this MLE, representatives from nine national governments, funding organisations and research performing organisations will be paired with science communication experts from the COALESCE hubs in the same countries. Sweden is represented by Public & Science Sweden as the national COALESCE hub, with Lotta W Tomasson, Head of Communications, serving as the expert representative along with Anna Maria Fleetwood from the Swedish Research Council.
The MLE aims to foster national support for science communication by jointly exploring specific R&I policy challenges and opportunities. The process enables participating countries to exchange knowledge, success stories, barriers and experiences, while also strengthening preparedness for future crises in which science communication plays a vital role.
The MLE will run through a series of thematic meetings, covering a number of priority topics:
- Overview of the science communication landscape in national governance structures
- Social perception of science, trust, and citizen engagement
- Rapid mobilisation of science communication and responses to misinformation in times of crisis
- Building skills and competences – toward a science communication competence framework
Expected results include consolidated knowledge on effective practices, stronger recognition of science communication within R&I systems, and the establishment of a science communication competence framework across EU member states and beyond.
“Science communication is crucial for building trust between science and society. By engaging in this MLE, we hope to strengthen cooperation and share Swedish perspectives on how to make science more accessible, transparent and impactful,” said Lotta W Tomasson, Public & Science Sweden’s representative in the exercise.
The nine countries are taking part in the initiative: Estonia, France, Germany, Ireland, Lithuania, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom. The work builds on earlier MLEs in areas such as Citizen Science, Public Engagement, EU Missions, and Bridging the Gap between Science and Policy.
Following an online kick-off meeting in June, the first meeting on priority topic 1 is being held on 24 September 2025 in Madrid. The MLE will run until March 2027.
Download a factsheet about the MLE here.
