Beyond communicating science: Building trust, dialogue, and action in water crises
How can we ensure that scientific knowledge not only advances our understanding of water crises but also reaches, engages, and empowers those who need it most?
As water-related challenges become increasingly complex, effective science communication is essential for translating hydrological research into meaningful societal impact. Yet, communicating science is not simply about making research findings accessible. It requires building trust, fostering dialogue, and connecting scientific knowledge with the needs, experiences, and priorities of diverse communities.
Our newest publication explores these challenges through the perspectives of the international hydrological community, contributing to the ambitions of the IAHS HELPING Scientific Decade. We highlight the importance of strengthening communication across three interconnected dimensions: science–society engagement, science–policy interactions, and transdisciplinary collaboration. These connections are fundamental to ensuring that scientific knowledge informs decisions, supports collective learning, and contributes to effective responses to water crises.
The work also introduces the FUSS framework—Few, Unambiguous, Short, and Well-Structured messages—as a practical approach to making scientific communication clearer, more accessible, and more impactful.
Ultimately, this paper advocates a fundamental shift from communicating science to society towards communicating and co-producing knowledge with society. By embracing inclusive, transparent, and two-way communication, the hydrological community can strengthen trust, bridge the gap between research and action, and enhance the societal value of hydrological science.
More information about the publication:
Orieschnig, C., Adla, S., Chun, K. P., Srivastava, S., Morovati, K., Howard, B. C., … Zappa, M. (2026). Effective science communication in the face of water crises: a community perspective on challenges and best practice in HELPING. Hydrological Sciences Journal, 71(6), 1207–1224. https://doi.org/10.1080/02626667.2026.2625282
