Potentialities of online communication

A new collaboration between organic research and the Institute of Information and Media Studies, Aarhus University (DK) is researching science communication online. The aim is to get a better understanding of online communication of scientific knowledge and explore how the Internet can support transnational organic research networks.

By Signe Herbers Poulsen, PhD Scholar

Media is of great importance in science communication. A lot of research has been done within the field of traditional media concerning dissemination and communication of research but there is a lack of empirical studies of the Internet as medium for science communication.

The development of the Internet is changing the conditions for communication of scientific knowledge. Through websites, online newsletter, online journals and discussions the science world is experiencing new possibilities of communicating with the public and users of research and new ways of supporting cooperation between researchers and research networks across geographic borders. As the Internet is increasingly used within the science world there are a lot of new issues to study.

The research project ”Internet Communication and Organic Research Network – Science Communication and Scientific Knowledge Sharing in the Network Society” (2005-2008) studies science communication online. The objective is to examine how the Internet medium is and can be used to support transnational communication and cooperation among actors from different national cultures of knowledge. The project explores the Internet’s potentials to facilitate transnational research networks and to develop new methods to support and strengthen science communication between researchers and stakeholders.

The project is a co-operation between the Institute of Information and Media Studies at Aarhus University (DK) and The Danish Research Centre of Organic Food and Farming (DARCOF).

The first part of the project is studying the users and their use of international communication and dissemination of organic research on the Internet. An online questionnaire survey is launched among the subscribers of organic research newsletter to get a better understanding of who the users are, in what way they are using online communication and what their needs and interests are in information on organic research.

Further information on the survey

Contact information

Signe Herbers Poulsen, PhD Scholar

Danish Research Centre for Organic Food and Farming (DARCOF)
Research Centre Foulum
P.O. Box 50
8830 Tjele
Tel.: + 45 89 99 16 81
Fax: + 45 89 99 16 73

E-mail to Signe Herbers Poulsen