Science thrives on both public engagement and cutting-edge research. Recent developments in science outreach, media literacy, and radio astronomy illustrate how a variety of approaches are needed to foster scientific understanding and drive discovery.
Since 1997, the International Particle Physics Outreach Group (IPPOG) has worked to present and popularise particle physics across all ages, fostering long-term support for fundamental research. A key resource is its Resource Database, an online platform that for nearly a decade has offered high-quality education and outreach materials in particle physics and related sciences.
To help readers assess scientific evidence in news, researchers designed the Scientific Evidence Indicator, a tool that uses metadata from publications to indicate evidence strength. The tool aims to teach readers to differentiate science from pseudoscience. Evaluations showed it helps readers recognize peer-reviewed studies but falls short in promoting deeper understanding. The study suggests similar tools might be better targeted at journalists.
On the research front, the SKA Observatory telescopes—SKA-Low and SKA-Mid—offer unprecedented capabilities for radio astronomy, including high sensitivity, wide frequency coverage, and numerous beams. These features are expected to revolutionize pulsar astronomy, as described in a special issue on pulsar science with SKA. The special issue includes eleven articles detailing the impact on different areas of pulsar research.
Together, outreach tools like the IPPOG database and the Scientific Evidence Indicator, along with powerful research facilities like the SKA, demonstrate that advancing science and its communication requires coordinated efforts across education, media engagement, and fundamental research.
