On 15th September, an agreement was signed at the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, marking the launch of the Polish Press Agency (PAP)’s Scientific Think Tank. The University of Warsaw is one of its partners. The initiative combines the research potential of Polish universities and scientific institutions with the editorial expertise and communication capabilities of the Polish Press Agency. Chancellor Robert Grey signed the agreement on behalf of Prof. Alojzy Z. Nowak, the UW Rector.
The PAP Scientific Think Tank is a permanent platform for cooperation between the scientific community and the media. Its activities will focus both on the challenges facing science and higher education, and on issues of importance to the state and society. Key areas will include artificial intelligence and new technologies, information security, disinformation, health, the economy and social change.
On 15th September, an agreement was signed at the headquarters of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education to launch the PAP Scientific Think Tank. The document was signed by Chancellor Robert Grey on behalf of Prof. Alojzy Z. Nowak, the UW Rector.
“One of the most important challenges facing the PAP Scientific Think Tank is building the public’s information resilience in the age of digitalisation and artificial intelligence. Never before has access to knowledge been so easy, yet at the same time it is becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish knowledge from opinion, reliable information from false information, and content created by humans from that generated by technology. And it is precisely here that two particular responsibilities converge: that of science, which creates and verifies knowledge, and that of the media, which gives it a social reach. I believe that the collaboration between the university and the Polish Press Agency will result not only in analyses and debates, but also in concrete solutions aimed at improving the quality of information and building trust in scientific knowledge. For perhaps one of the most important challenges of the coming years will no longer be access to information, but the ability to recognise which information we can trust,” emphasised Robert Grey, the UW Chancellor.
The University of Warsaw was also represented at the event by its spokesperson, Dr Anna Modzelewska.
Science in public debate
One of the project’s main objectives is to take scientific knowledge beyond the traditional expert circle. The results of research and analysis are intended to form the basis not only for reports, but also for information materials, discussions with researchers, debates, podcasts, videos, infographics and content for social media.
Interdisciplinary teams will be formed to address specific issues, drawing on the specialisms of individual universities and experts. Their work will result in reports and analyses, recommendations, expert commentary, debates, and educational and outreach projects.
The PAP Scientific Think Tank is established jointly by the Polish Press Agency and the following institutions: the University of Warsaw, the AGH University of Kraków, the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, the SGH Warsaw School of Economics, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, the Jagiellonian University, the University of Łódź, Wrocław Medical University, the University of Wrocław, the Polish Academy of Sciences and the Conference of Rectors of Academic Schools in Poland.
The Ministry of Science and Higher Education is the project’s institutional partner.