This is Science for Democracy!

Citizens are called to vote in the European Elections on 6 - 9 June 2024. Our votes, your vote, will help shape our future. Today, democracy may seem obvious to us. But this has not always been the case. It’s a precious gift we need to nurture as we keep the pace with the fast-changing times we live in – and research and innovation is there to help. ?

This year of democratic expression is an opportunity to explore the multi-faceted ways research contributes to EU policies and strengthens democracy. From fighting disinformation to strengthening citizen engagement, a myriad of EU-funded projects are doing their part.?

Disinformation?

The EU’s Horizon Europe programme dedicates funding to issues related to foreign interference, aiming at strengthening democratic accountability and the resilience of citizens against disinformation. This is the mission of the EU-funded VIGILANT project, that developed a platform which can identify disinformation and provide analysis tools and technologies tailored to Police Authorities. This is crucial since police authorities often lack specialised means to identify, track, and investigate online disinformation and other problematic content on the web.?

Disinformation is closely linked to an emerging trend of post-truth politics, a phenomenon marked by the changing status of truth in political discourse. We spoke with Dr. Maximilian Conrad, a professor and beneficiary of Horizon Europe, who is currently coordinating the RECLAIM project to find out more about this trend.?Dr. Conrad spoke about how the changing status of truth is challenging liberal democracy in Europe.?

Emerging technologies?

Other EU-funded initiatives are investigating the use (and misuse) of new technologies, specifically focusing on Artificial Intelligence (AI), and how we can use it to debunk disinformation spread via algorithms on various platforms.?

For example, the project vera.ai is building professional trustworthy AI solutions against advanced disinformation techniques. The results will nevertheless be validated by professional journalists and fact checkers.?

The Rule of Law?

The rule of law is one of the basic EU principles and a focal area of European research and innovation. As part of this, Horizon Europe is funding ReMeD, a project that tackles challenges hindering a healthy relationship between media and democracy. This initiative works with stakeholders to co-produce solutions for media that strengthen democracy and the rule of law. ?

Citizen Engagement?

Citizen engagement is essential for a healthy, fully flourishing democracy. While the most obvious way for citizens to participate is through voting – supporting fact-based debate and discourse is equally essential. This is the role of science communication, which helps bridge the gap between scientific complexities and the general public’s understanding in order to facilitate fact-based discussions and build trust. Dr Jason Pridmore, from the COALESCE research project, told Horizon Magazine how “good story telling” is key to effectively conveying the complexities of science to the public.?

Citizens can also be active participants in science. Under citizen science, they help gather empirical evidence in various research fields. This knowledge then allows scientists to conduct novel research, develop useful tools, and bring about new measures to benefit all walks of life. Both CROPS and ScienceUS are working to upscale and build European networks for citizen science activities.???

15 Horizon-funded research projects are laying the groundwork for a more engaged, responsive democracy. From participatory budgets to deliberative forums, they are giving people a powerful voice in the policymaking process. This CORDIS Results Pack unlocks the tools and strategies to ignite a civic renaissance, empowering citizens to shape the policies that impact their lives.?

Democracy - a right worth defending?

Lastly, there is something special for all you podcast enthusiasts: a stimulating conversation between three distinguished researchers who are tackling the crucial challenges facing democracy in the 21st century. Their insights are truly fascinating and will leave you with a renewed appreciation for the importance of defending this fundamental right. Listen now to the "Democracy - a right worth defending" episode of the CORDIScovery podcast.?

This is Science for Democracy!?

A wide range of EU-funded projects are working to understand and nurture democracy's constitute parts. Discover additional science for democracy projects that are working hard in this field.??

Europe invests into making our democracy stronger– now is your turn to use your vote! Find out more here ?? europa.eu/!yPvmd7?