The TRESCA project is coordinated by researchers from the Department of Media and Communication (ESHCC) at Erasmus University Rotterdam and was designed with the aim of building long-term impact and creating positive change through engaging with and training stakeholders such as scientists, journalists, policy makers and the public.
In 2018, Facebook’s Cambridge Analytica scandal revealed that the personal data of around 87 million users had been handled inappropriately for political advertising purposes. And while Facebook had to face a backlash from the #DeleteFacebook hashtag movement on Twitter, protesting against the misuse of privacy, ultimately its use and acceptance were not negatively affected. This scandal highlighted the importance of data protection and the dangers of digital surveillance, and inspired the creation of the TRESCA project (Trustworthy, Reliable and Engaging Scientific Communication Approaches).
The aim of TRESCA is to broaden the traditional scope of science communication beyond its focus on the natural sciences.
The project started in January 2020 and will last for 28 months, ending in April 2022. During this period, three main outputs will be produced: an animated science communication outreach video, a prototype of a misinformation widget working on encrypted communication channels to help identify trustworthy sources and a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) addressed to scientists, journalists and policy makers to learn how to engage in effective science communication.