“The University of Valencia is committed to the spread of knowledge and its dissemination among citizens”, highlighted María Dolores Real, vice-rector for Innovation and Transfer of the University of Valencia. “At the state level, we were pioneers in our commitment to scientific communication and dissemination with the creation in 2002 of the Chair for the Dissemination of Science and the incorporation of the Scientific Culture and Innovation Unit into the university structure in 2007. Since then we have renewed the accreditation by the FECyT and organised hundreds of dissemination activities every year such as workshops, mathematical routes, morning tours, science bars or science outreach awards, among others.”

In the Manifesto of Crue Spanish Universities for the International Day of Scientific Culture, with the tags in networks #EstoEsUniversidad #DíaCulturaCientífica, it is explained that September 28 was chosen to commemorate the start of the broadcasts of the Cosmos series by Carl Sagan, one of the most influential dissemination programs in history. “In 2021, organisations from practically all continents have joined this initiative and promoted the carrying out of activities that demonstrate the importance of scientific culture”, highlights the manifesto.

Furthermore, “Crue Spanish Universities, following the objectives of responsible research and innovation (RRI), is committed to promoting scientific culture as a basic element in the training of the person”. The manifesto also recognises that universities play a fundamental role in bridging the gap between society and the scientific community by taking to the streets the daily reality of inclusive, egalitarian and sustainable science that reflects the social, intellectual and physical diversity of the citizenship.

The manifesto also vindicates the Scientific Culture and Innovation Units (UCC+i) as entities “with the specific mission of showing the importance and impact of the work of scientists in society and increasing their interest in science, technology and innovation”. The organisation of dissemination activities with the participation of researchers who make women visible in science helps maintain the momentum for equal rights and opportunities between women and men, and fight against the glass ceiling in the academic and scientific fields.

Regulations

Spanish universities comply with article 44 of the Spanish Constitution, which gives public powers the duty to “promote scientific and technical research for the benefit of the general interest”. They also comply with article 93 of the Organic Law of Universities, which entrusts them with the responsibility of promoting “the rapprochement of humanistic and scientific cultures” and of “transmitting knowledge to society through the dissemination of science”.

Hashtags: #EstoEsUniversidad    #DíaCulturaCientífica

Manifesto here.