Global Conference Start-Ups: Inclusive Science and Society Engagement

Science is not complete without proper public engagement. This session brings together key personalities behind prominent science conference start-ups, spotlighting new voices at the nexus of science and society from five continents. The panel collectively shows how the phenomenal growth of ambitious public engagement events at national, regional, and global levels reflects a more vibrant approach to co-creating policy between science, politics, civil society, academia, multilateral organizations, and industry. By facilitating access to science for citizens around the world, these events are forging inter- and multi-disciplinary collaboration across sectors and societies. From Science Agora Tokyo and Science Forum South Africa to Euroscience Open Forum Toulouse, from the Latin American and Caribbean Open Science Forum and the Korean Science and Creativity Conference to the World Science Forum Jordan, these event champions are gathering at the AAAS Annual Meeting to promote new, pluralistic, and creative spaces for collective thinking about the best tools, tactics, and techniques for meaningful public engagement. Acknowledging that societal problems do not necessarily have purely scientific solutions, speakers will argue that making real breakthroughs demands not only scientific discovery but greater dialogue, diplomacy, and inclusiveness.