This study examines the degree of institutionalization of Public Communication of Science (PCS) in Mexico based on a sample of 83 research centers belonging to the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), the National Polytechnic Institute (IPN), and the Public Research Centers coordinated by the Secretariat of Science, Humanities, Technology and Innovation (SECIHTI). Using a structured questionnaire grounded in the multilevel model proposed by Entradas and Bauer, the study identifies budgetary inequalities, the predominance of one-way activities, and partial progress in policies and professionalization. The findings place the Mexican case within a broader Latin American process of transition towards the consolidation of PCS as a strategic function of the scientific system.
Volume 9 • Issue 1 • 2026
Articles
Conectando mundos: La exposición “Maripensario” como puente entre la investigación científica y la divulgación
El artículo documenta la experiencia de cocreación de la exposición “Maripensario” entre el Museo Interactivo de Ciencia de Quito y la Universidad Amazónica Ikiam. La misma se basó en una investigación neurobiológica sobre las mariposas Heliconiini. Mediante entrevistas y análisis de contenido se da cuenta del trabajo de traducción de conocimiento científico en una propuesta inmersiva, emocional, estética y educativa. La exposición integró arte y ciencia, proponiendo un modelo de divulgación situado y transformador. Esta experiencia fortaleció el diálogo entre academia, museo y ciudadanía, y resaltó el potencial del museo como territorio de aprendizaje colectivo y de reflexión crítica.
Public communication of science and university extension (public engagement): researchers' perspectives from a qualitative study
Public Communication of Science (CPC) can be understood as a strategic dimension of university life. This study investigates how researchers from the Institute of Physics at the Federal University of Uberlândia, in Minas Gerais (Brazil), perceive and practice CPC, highlighting institutional tensions, institutional initiatives, and the role of university mechanisms. Based on interviews with nine professors and seven postgraduate students, results indicate a clear recognition of CPC’s social relevance. However, participation remains irregular and reactive, alongside a lack of awareness regarding existing institutional initiatives. We advocate for an institutional ecosystem that strengthens engagement and the social role of the university.