Artur
The Asociació Catalana de Comunicació Científica (ACCC) is an institution that aims to promote proper scientific communication in Catalan. To further explain what it is all about we asked ICMAB’s Head of Communication Anna May, who became the Vicepresident of the ACCC in their latest assembly:
“The ACCC is the Catalan Association for Science Communication, a professional organization with more than 30 years of history (it was founded in 1990), which counts with around 400 members belonging to the fields of science communication and science journalism, scientists, disseminators and publishers in Catalunya, with a common interest in communicating science. The ACCC main objectives are to promote, disseminate and improve scientific communication in Catalan and in the Catalan-speaking territories, influence on the social and political aspects of scientific information, and also to promote the networking and training of its members in the fields of science, technology and innovation.
The ACCC counts with a very active mailing list of more than 500 members, and also participates in many projects, some of them European: the European Researchers' Night, Illustraciencia (scientific illustration contest and exhibition), ENJOI and PerCientEx (about excellence in science journalism), the exhibition "Científiques Catalanes 2.0", and many others. It collaborates with the main actors in Catalunya to promote and organize scientific events, such as CosmoCaixa, Fundació Catalana per a la Recerca i la Innovació (FCRI), and the Barcelona City Council and some of its civic centers (such as Vil·la Urània). The ACCC also belongs to the European Federation of Science Journalism (EFSJ) and the World Federation of Science Journalism (WFSJ).
We want to be a platform for people interested in communicating science, to share knowledge, experiences and good practices, but also events, workshops and materials to keep learning in this fascinating topic.”
This new position is another sign of Anna May’s dedication to scientific communication. Her implication with the ACCC started more than a decade ago:
“I joined the ACCC back in 2007, when I was still an undergraduate. I was studying a scientific degree, but I was already very interested in communicating science. I remember I was working part-time in the Language Services of the University of Barcelona, and I was participating in its journal (enxarxa't). I wanted to interview one of my Professors, Claudi Mans, because I liked the way he taught classes, and because he was publishing books and articles to understand science topics in a simple way. In the interview, he mentioned the ACCC, and I quickly became interested in it. At that time, Mercè Piqueras was the President of the ACCC, and I remember contacting her and asking if I could become a member. Since that moment, I started being part of the mailing list, I became a member. I enjoyed being part of it and getting to know some of its members and activities, and soon became involved in some of the activities.”
After joining the ACCC in 2007, Anna May became part of its Board in 2018, and is now, as of their last assembly, its Vicepresident, replacing Rubén Permuy, who is stepping up as the President of the ACCC.
“The decisions of the ACCC are basically proposed by its members, either individually or within the Working Groups, and then discussed and approved at the ACCC Governing Board meetings. I've been part of the Board for 2 years already, and now will continue being part of it as Vicepresident. The ACCC is already very active in many different projects and activities.
As the new Vicepresident, one of my main goals is to continue creating this atmosphere and place where ideas can bloom and be converted into projects; to continue creating and encouraging the networking between the ACCC members and beyond, and to honor the first members and the history of the ACCC. In addition, it would be great that more and more people get to know the ACCC and would like to become a member or a collaborating entity. The more, the merrier.”
Online Direction Board Meeting of the ACCC.