Communication Operations Management | Training | Science & AI policy communication | Content Development and Repurposing | Expert Evaluation and Rapporteur
A new study of The National Research and Innovation Agency of The Republic of Indonesia (BRIN) reveals that digital science communication across much of the Global South remains dominated by the deficit model, a one-way transfer of information from experts to the public. Researchers from Universitas Padjadjaran analysed BRIN’s digital platforms, interviews, and engagement data across four communication models: deficit, dialogue, participatory, and scientific agency. Findings show that BRIN’s digital strategy is primarily informational: websites and social media serve as channels for institutional visibility rather than spaces for engagement. Dialogue exists, but mostly as “controlled dialogue” based on performative interaction constrained by bureaucracy and risk aversion. Participatory initiatives, such as co-creation projects with local communities, remain framed and directed by the institution. The authors propose a strategic hybrid model to balance efficiency with inclusion. Deficit approaches should be reserved for factual announcements, while genuine dialogue and participatory practices should be expanded to build trust, empower citizens, and enhance science’s societal relevance.
