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Institutional science communication has become a central tool for addressing the challenges of disinformation and strengthening public trust in public institutions. This is the conclusion of researcher of the University of Valencia Carolina Moreno-Castro in a recent article published in Journal of Science Communication (JCOM), which examines the strategic role of communication in situations of crisis and high uncertainty.
The study analyses how the absence of clear, accessible and immediate official information can create favourable conditions for the spread of fake news, rumours and conspiracy narratives.
According to the research, in emergency situations citizens require reliable, evidence-based information to make informed decisions. However, lack of coordination or delays in communication can lead to confusion, uncertainty, social anxiety, erosion of institutional trust and the expansion of disinformation.
Moreno identifies several visible symptoms of this distrust, including “the proliferation of fake news, the circulation of ‘alternative facts’ and emotionally charged content, as well as the consolidation of echo chambers and cognitive biases that reinforce prior beliefs”. She describes this phenomenon as “informational entropy, in which the volume and speed of information blur the distinction between truth and falsehood, weakening citizens’ critical capacity and undermining trust in both science and democratic institutions”.
The article examines recent episodes that illustrate these dynamics. One is the severe flash floods in Valencia caused by the storm system (DANA) of 29 October 2024, characterised by delayed warnings and fragmented information. Another is the large-scale power cut affecting the Iberian Peninsula and southern France on 28 April 2025, during which official communication was initially absent.
“In these recent crisis contexts, particularly significant cases have been documented. During the 2024 floods in the city of Valencia, false narratives circulated about the alleged demolition of dams or deliberate climate manipulation. Similarly, during the 2025 massive blackout on the Iberian Peninsula, conspiracy theories proliferated, attributing the event to sabotage, foreign cyberattacks or even extraterrestrial causes. Amplified by the lack of immediate official information, these narratives generated confusion, fear and a parallel reality in which rumours replaced verified facts”, comments the professor at the University of Valencia.
Such cases highlight the need for robust and efficient crisis-communication protocols anchored in institutional communication, which ultimately constitutes an essential public service and a citizens’ right.
Public Communication of Science
The research situates these phenomena within a broader context of information overload, where citizens must simultaneously process reliable information and disinformation. This environment can lead to cognitive overload, difficulty in identifying trustworthy sources, social polarisation and disengagement from institutions.
To address this situation, the article calls for a structural transformation of institutional communication based on transparency, accessibility, rapid response, inter-institutional coordination, specialised training in risk communication and multichannel strategies. It emphasises that communication should be integrated as a core component of public governance and science policy.
Scientific Advice and the Role of Universities
The study also underscores the importance of incorporating scientific advisory systems into political decision-making. Initiatives such as Spain’s National Office for Scientific Advice (ONAC) represent a significant step towards institutionalising scientific evidence in governance.
In line with European guidelines and international standards, science communication is framed as an essential function of academic institutions, closely linked to knowledge transfer and the social impact of research. Universities, as key agents in the knowledge system, play a fundamental role in generating, validating and disseminating rigorous and accessible information.
In this regard, Carolina Moreno argues that effective institutional communication is fundamental to countering disinformation and ensuring proper democratic functioning. “Its primary contribution lies in its ability to provide truthful, clear, accessible and timely information, especially in times of crises. This requires improved communication channels and protocols, as well as an ethical commitment to transparency, speed and accountability. Furthermore, strong institutional communication helps restore public trust, supports informed decision-making and reinforces the legitimacy of public institutions”.
For this reason, Moreno calls on public and academic institutions to drive “a profound transformation of current communication models”. According to the article, approaches based solely on dissemination by individual scientists are insufficient, particularly in crisis situations. “We must move towards more robust, integrated and structural institutional models that embed science communication as a central element of public governance. This includes developing crisis-communication protocols, specialised training for institutional officials, establishing scientific advisory structures at the highest decision-making levels and ensuring open, comprehensible access to evidence-based information”, the researcher details.
And she concludes: “Effective institutional communication acts as a mechanism for transmitting information and as a fundamental pillar of social cohesion and democratic quality. In contexts marked by disinformation and distrust, it helps restore institutional authority, reduce public uncertainty and prevent the spread of false narratives. Likewise, it contributes to strengthening the social contract, as it recognises the public's right to receive accurate and useful information, and positions communication as an essential public responsibility rather than a secondary activity".
The study was conducted within the framework of three research projects analysing disinformation narratives in the public sphere. It forms part of the national project CONFIDES, funded by Spain’s State Research Agency, as well as of two European projects – IBERIFIER+ and COALESCE – funded by the European Commission. As Moreno highlights, these initiatives “share the aim of examining the impact of disinformation in areas such as health, climate change or artificial intelligence, and aim to develop evidence-based communication strategies to strengthen public trust and democratic quality”.
Article reference: Moreno-Castro, C. (2026). “Reshaping science communication in a critical period of disinformation and distrust”. JCOM 25(1), C03. https://doi.org/10.22323/304220251109231221
