Today, the laureates of the "Women in Science" fellowship, a competition co-organised by the Baltic National Academies of Sciences and National Commissions for UNESCO, were announced. Associate Professor of Journalism Studies at the Institute of Social Studies Marju Himma received a €7,000 fellowship to support her research project "Deliberative Science Communication."
Marju Himma, a well-regarded advocate for science communication and public engagement, received the fellowship in the category of Doctor of Sciences in social sciences. In her research, she tests the theoretical concept of deliberative science communication and applies a model that research teams and science officials can put into practice.
“Science communication focused on addressing knowledge gaps tends to be one-way, which has contributed to a decline in trust between science and society. In the "Deliberative Science Communication (DelSci)" project, we are testing a model that emphasizes the interests of the public and stakeholders, conveying knowledge in a dialogic and meaningful way.”
According to Margit Keller, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, this fellowship represents a significant recognition for the entire field.
"Marju Himma's research in science communication is particularly valuable in our information-saturated society, where the need for a clear and impactful science-based worldview is paramount. It is also noteworthy that Marju actively bridges the roles of scholar and practitioner, both as a researcher and a journalist."
The Women in Science fellowship program aims to support women in advancing their scientific careers, promoting gender equality within the scientific community, and inspiring future generations of researchers. A total of 29 scientists applied for the three €7,000 scholarships, 21 in the fields of Natural Sciences, Engineering and Technology, Medical and Health Sciences and 8 in the Social Sciences.
Nine outstanding researchers from the Baltic countries received awards. In addition to Marju Himma, two more researchers from the University of Tartu were recognized: Associate Professor of Archaeology and Research Fellow in Analytical and Physical Chemistry Mari Tõrv, and Junior Research Fellow in Technology Kadri-Ann Pankratov. Estonian fellowships are funded by the Ministry of Education and Research.
The joint award ceremony for the Baltic laureates will take place next Tuesday, 12 November, in Vilnius and will broadcast live at the website https://www.lma.lt/live-broadcast.