Research and Democracy in the spotlight for MCAA’s first-ever virtual event - MCAA Magazine News January 2021

With more than 300 registrations for participation, MCAA’s November 2020 virtual conference was a big success. “I am very proud of the conference,” says Valentina Ferro, MCAA Vice-Chair who was active behind the scenes with preparations. “Just 24 hours after the registration opened, we received more than 100 requests. The total at the end of the conference reached more than 300!”

According to Valentina, this success can be attributed partly to the theme: Research and Democracy.

“This theme is dear to MCAA, but often overlooked,” she says. “We believe that science and research can’t live in a vacuum. They are part of society. As such, researchers should take part in the discussion and help shape the future bringing evidence and facts to the decision-making process,” she says.

This means it is crucial for science and research to be connected to politics so they contribute to build a better society. “Science and research are the key for society to understand the world, and can be a powerful tool to inform decision making and enrich individuals,” explains Valentina. “Furthermore, what happens in the political arena profoundly affects researchers. Politics determine what funding is reserved for research, and on what topics this should be spent.”

These events made me focus on the particular issue that the value and impact of research & innovation (R&I) for societal gain are not always clearly communicated to the relevant stakeholders and the general public.

She quotes Harvard Professor and best-selling author Daniel Ziblatt, during the keynote lecture at the conference: “Scientists should be defenders of the truth.” Therefore, researchers should follow what is true, in connection with the rest of the world.

“Discussing what is the role of scientists in society, on how politics affects us, on how to communicate effectively the benefit of scientific contribution to the policy world, will help us fill that gap. And hopefully, bring us closer together as a society.”

PREVENTING POLARISATION

One of the most debated issues was the increasing polarisation of societies, as Valentina explains: “Society had been splitting and growing further apart on several critical issues. Politicians and the access to digital communication has contributed to enhance this phenomenon. Nuances and shades of grey are more difficult to communicate than a clear-cut black or white truth. As a matter of fact, the world is not clear-cut or black and white.”

As regards efforts to combat polarisation, Valentina suggests that everyone can play a role. “We can be the actors of a quiet and gentle revolution, where we listen and understand and fight polarisation with the only tool that can disintegrate it: an acquired sense of community and participation,” she explains.

ABOUT THE #DEMOCRACYATRISK SESSION

Valentina held a specific session dedicated to #DemocracyAtRisk and invited several experts to debate around this theme:

Nahema Marchall, researcher in the field of computational propaganda at Oxford University

Giuseppe Porcaro, geopolitical scientist who had written a fiction book to communicate his dream for a strong united Europe where young generations take part in the democratic process

Virginia Fiume, coordinator for the EU initiatives from the pan-European groups “Science for democracy” and “Eumans”

“I wanted to learn more from experts in the field to have a key to interpret the division I see every day. Fake news spreading at a speed that is unprecedented in human history, the manipulation of truth by politicians, the intermission of foreign countries in others’ democratic processes,” explains Valentina.

The three invited experts agreed during the session that the risks and challenges social media poses to democracy cannot be combated by the media itself. “We have to play an active role, engage at the local level, understand our communities and, eventually, use the tool of internet and social media to mobilise politics on a larger scale, like at the European Parliament level,” says Valentina.

INSPIRING MCAA-LED SESSIONS

Valentina is particularly proud of the MCAA-led sessions. “It was crucial to have a session about Horizon Europe and the funding challenges of the future. Organised by MCAA chair Mostafa Shawrav, and with speakers such as ERC interim president Jean-Pierre Bourguignon, European Parliament member Maria de Graça Carvalho and Secretary General of Science Europe Lidia BorellDamián, the session highlights once again that MCAA can and should play a role in this discussion,” she says.

Harassment and violence were also discussed within a dedicated session led by Lidia Natalia Trusilewicz from the Responsible Research Environments Taskforce of the MCAA Policy Working Group. “I am thankful for this session. It is difficult to be on the front line when it comes to combating harassment and violence, especially for fear of repercussions. Lidia did an amazing job finding the right voices for this discussion and shining lights on these problems so that we can collectively act on them,” adds Valentina.

LESSONS LEARNED

Valentina is happy to note that no major technical issue happened on the day of the events, as many were anticipated and tackled in advance.

MCAA is currently working to get feedback from the attendees and make sure the association can increase the offering and tailor these virtual events to the attendees’ needs and expectations.

Valentina highlights relevant initiatives to encourage networking in the framework of virtual events: “We experimented with thematic zoom chat rooms to create a virtual network experience and with a comedy fundraising event meant to be a relaxing parenthesis at the end of a long day of thinking.”

AND THE NEXT MCAA VIRTUAL EVENT IS…

These lessons learned will constitute the basis of the next MCAA General Assembly and Annual Conference, which is likely to be virtual. “A virtual event is not a replacement for a live one. However, we are working very hard to improve upon the experience gained at this conference, to make sure we offer the best possible replacement for a live event,” adds Valentina.

Looking ahead, virtual events might be organised in the future, even when the COVID-19 pandemic is over. “Virtual events could be a pledge to our commitment to create meaningful connections without compromising on our core values of sustainability and of inclusivity. They give us the chance to network and grow as an association while reducing our footprint on the planet and while opening the door for participation to everyone who cannot afford to travel to in-person events, for accessibility or socio-economic issues,” concludes Valentina.

MCAA Editorial Team