In a significant recognition of the efforts to bridge the gap between science and the public, the “Conversations with Scientists: Decades of Research for Days of Vaccines” campaign will be awarded the 2021-2023 Best European Campaign by the International Union of Immunological Societies (IUIS) and the European Federation of Immunological Societies (EFIS) during the 2023 IUIS Congress on November 27th in South Africa.
Launched during the European Vaccination Week in April 2021, the campaign was a collaborative effort between COLife, an alliance of six life sciences research institutions in the region of Lisbon and Oeiras, i3S in Porto, the Portuguese Society of Immunology (SPI), and Ciência Viva - the National Agency for Scientific and Technological Culture. Over a span of ten days, 121 scientists from various Portuguese institutions engaged in around 400 sessions, reaching audiences from all corners of Portugal and even extending digital outreach to East Timor and São Tomé and Príncipe.
As Marta Moita, one of the organisers and principal investigator at the Champalimaud Foundation, explains, “The campaign’s primary objective was to demystify the rapid development of COVID-19 vaccines, addressing common concerns and questions from the public”. “In Portugal, an initial period of great enthusiasm with the vaccines was rapidly followed by a period of doubts around the vaccine efficiency and safety. By putting scientists in direct contact with society, the campaign contributed to clarify some misconceptions and promote vaccination”, adds Helena Soares, campaign co-organizer, SPI board of Directors member and Principal Investigator at Nova Medical School.
Scientists interacted with over 10,000 individuals, predominantly young people, discussing the intricacies of the scientific process and the distinction between applied and fundamental science. The dialogues provided clarity on how decades of scientific research culminated in the swift creation of effective and safe COVID-19 vaccines. “To better prepare scientists for these interactions, the campaign organisers produced several materials, from FAQ to presentations, and provided training on both scientific and communication topics. I believe this was key for the impact that this campaign had.”, highlights co-organizer Inês Domingues, Head of Communications at Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes (iMM).
Highlighting the importance of vaccines in the fight against the pandemic, the campaign facilitated online sessions that delved into the mechanics of vaccines and their protective role. These sessions, held between April 20th and 30th, 2021, were tailored for diverse audiences, including the general public, schools, and organised citizen groups and associations. “The overwhelming response, with around 400 sessions booked in less than 48 hours, underscored the public’s eagerness to engage with scientists on this topic”, points out co-organiser Catarina Ramos, Head of Communications, Events & Outreach at the Champalimaud Foundation.
Organised as a response to the pressing need for accurate information, the campaign emphasised the foundation of solid scientific research behind the vaccines. For Rosalia Vargas, President of Ciência Viva - the National Agency for Scientific and Technological Culture, explains “This campaign’s success was evident not only in its direct reach but also in its digital footprint, with a dedicated webpage and a video, co-created by the scientific community and Ciência Viva teams. These digital materials offered comprehensive information on the development, science, and safety of COVID-19 vaccines and, this truly collaborative campaign contributed to further the already high trust by Portuguese citizens in science, particularly, in health.”
And Margarida Saraiva, group leader at i3S in Porto and President of the Portuguese Society for Immunology between 2018-2021, concludes “Being President of the SPI during the pandemic was a big challenge, as the interest of everyone in Immunology, and vaccines in particular, was suddenly very high. Answering questions and reassuring society on the safety and efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccines was a very important mission. It was a privilege to be part of this campaign and see the engagement from the Portuguese scientific community, with colleagues from Immunology to Neurosciences joining.”
The accolade from IUIS and EFIS, which champions the benefits of immunology research, further cements the campaign’s role in having fostered trust and understanding between the scientific community and society. The SPI thanks everyone involved, and EFIS and IUIS for recognizing this collaborative effort.