Daniela Ferreira da Silva, in collaboration with Anabela Carvalho, presented their research at the 16th Conference of the European Sociological Association, themed “Tension, Trust, and Transformation,” held at the University of Porto from August 27-30.
Their presentation, titled “Climate Groups’ Discourses On Science: (Re)Constructing Scientific Knowledge in Light of Political Visions,” was featured in a parallel session on “Digital Media and Public Engagement in Environmental Campaigns,” organised by Research Network 12: Environment and Society. The work critiques the simplistic view that contemporary environmental groups are merely “ambassadors of the scientific message,” “amplifiers of scientific practices,” or “mobilisers of the IPCC’s work.” The research offers a more nuanced understanding of how these groups, in Portugal, incorporate science into their narratives. The authors focused on challenging this oversimplified perspective while also addressing the risks and challenges associated with integrating science into activist discourses.
