Science communication will be put under the microscope today during a workshop at the 2025 World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC) in Barcelona. The session, Debates, Discussions & Didactics on Science Communications in 2025, will begin at 13:00 Central European Summer Time (CEST) today, Saturday, September 6, in Room 09 at the Fira de Barcelona Convention Center Gran Via.
The interactive session invites attendees to tackle challenges such as navigating misinformation, integrating artificial intelligence (AI), and choosing between competing digital platforms.
“I hope attendees have an engaging experience—processing more deeply the issues around scientific communication, which is changing so rapidly,” Matthew Smeltzer, PhD, said.
Dr. Smeltzer, Professor at the University of Memphis School of Public Health, is one of the workshop chairs. “We’re excited to have this platform and the opportunity to engage together. I hope everyone walks away with a few ways to communicate science more effectively.”
True to its name, the workshop will feature spirited discussions and thoughtful debates, offering attendees fresh perspectives and insights from leaders in the field.
“For this workshop, we have a great lineup of speakers,” Dr. Smeltzer said. “I’m excited to be in the room with many leading experts and friends as they impart their knowledge on this topic.”
One of those experts is Martin Edelman, MD, FACP, FASCO, Professor at the Fox Chase Cancer Center. Dr. Edelman will address the question of whether digital can replace print journals.
“Many of us are now getting much of our medical literature online. Is it still worth getting a printed journal?” Dr. Edelman said. “There is clearly an added expense. However, printed journals have their benefits—from accessibility and portability where there is no or limited internet, to deeper engagement with the material, and a requirement for careful writing and editorial review.”
The workshop will explore other topics, including:
- Picking a Platform: Twitter/X, LinkedIn, Bluesky, TikTok, Weibo, or the Good Old-Fashioned Podium?
- Combatting Misinformation in Science
- How AI Will Revolutionize Science Communications
- Is Social Media No Longer an Appropriate Platform for Scientific Discourse?
Attendee participation and questions are encouraged, as the workshop will provide a space to share, challenge, and refine ideas on scientific communication.
“We’ve done this for several years now, and we always get good audience participation and great questions,” Dr. Smeltzer said. “We want this to be more engaging than the typical session and fun for everyone.”
Debates, Discussions & Didactics on Science Communications in 2025
3:00 CEST, Saturday, September 6 • Room 09
Experts in communications will explore medical misinformation, leveraging AI, and choosing between competing digital communications platforms. LEARN MORE
