We have big news to share: BE SciComm is now officially registered as a nonprofit organization in Belgium!
Our mission remains the same: to strengthen science communication across three areas – research, practice, and education. We have always aimed to create opportunities for people working in science communication to connect, collaborate, and learn from each other. As a non-profit, we can now formally invite you all to join us as members. Find out how (and why!) below.
Our journey so far
This grassroots initiative was born several years ago when Liesbeth Aerts started bringing together science communicators at events across Flanders and Brussels. These gatherings laid the foundation for the first BE SciComm conference in 2020. Now our team has grown to a board of five dedicated experts: Liesbeth Aerts (freelance science communicator), Ingrid van Marion (researcher and trainer), Elisa Nelissen (researcher), Sofie Verkest (researcher), and Bradley van Paridon (freelance science journalist). We are all volunteers and share equal responsibility for the direction and operation of BE SciComm.
Expanding our reach
Our annual fall conference remains the cornerstone of our organization, but we saw opportunities to further support science communication in Belgium. This year saw us launch Big Bang, our biannual magazine, and organized several events focused on socializing, networking, and career opportunities. Becoming an official nonprofit was the logical next step in our journey.
Breaking down the walls between scientists and their publics requires engaging and responsible science communication. We are committed to professionalizing the field of science communication in Belgium, across linguistic, cultural, demographic, and other borders. For this, we are focusing on raising attention to the important role of those working as intermediaries between science and society, lobbying for science communication education programs, and establishing networks between science communication researchers.
Join our community
With the launch of a nonprofit, we are now able to offer a membership plan. For €45 per year, you can join the community and get free access to the annual conference in Brussels (mark your calendars for Friday 29 November this year!), and a subscription to Big Bang. You will also get access to and the chance to shape our online platform as we build it from the ground up. This space is for you, the BE SciComm membership community, to meet, share ideas, collaborate, socialize and grow science communication in Belgium! We also haven't forgotten about the future of science communication, since BA and MA students can register for free.
If you are particularly passionate about our mission, we would love to have you as a patron, which provides even more support for our growth.
Help us grow our budding science communication community by becoming a member, and please share all your ideas, feedback, and questions so we can help each other progress. Together we can do more.
Do you have ideas or feedback for us or do you want to become involved in what we do? Get in touch!
Finally, we’d like to give a special shout-out to our very first member: Reinout Verbeke! Thanks for your unwavering support ✨
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