We raise awareness of biotechnology

Science communication is key to raising awareness of the potential of biotechnology and its role in our daily lives, improving people’s lives and protecting the planet.

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What impact does communication have on society?

Over 6 million Spanish readers buy a physical newspaper each day (14% of the population) and 50% of the population chooses a digital format. The leading newspapers have roughly 20 million unique monthly consumers of their news on their websites and apps. Plus, nine in ten Spaniards use social media and spend at least two hours a day on these sites, which also have all sorts of content. And where does science fit in all these channels?

Since 2020, science and healthcare reporting has conquered screens, political debate, social media and front pages of newspapers because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Science has become a central topic among friends, over drinks or on a walk with the family. People have started to turn a critical eye on the world and the healthcare system, becoming aware of their surroundings on a global scale. We can say that, since then, society has learned about vaccines, immunity, how antigen tests are produced, how to do a PCR test and the benefits of wearing a mask on public transport or in the classroom. In short, they know more about science, biotechnology and its resilient, transformative capacity to work towards a shared goal: a healthier, more sustainable future.

What can we do to keep biotechnology in the news?

Keeping biotechnology on the front page (or homepage) of national and local newspapers, in sector journals and a trending topic on social media is one of the greatest challenges we have as life sciences experts.

First of all, it is important to accurately and concisely define biotechnology and its impact on society so readers not only know how to identify it but can also understand the solutions it offers up for their daily lives.

Plus, as an innovative sector, we have new stories every day. They have to be found and told at the right time, on the right platform and through expert voices, biotechnologists or political decision-makers. Biotechnology is a science of firsts, as we’ve seen over its more than 50-year history, and each first can be newsworthy. At AseBio we want to (and should) make society aware of them through every channel available and possible.

How do we work to tackle this challenge?

At AseBio, with all our members, we try to be a rigorous, up-to-date showcase of biotechnology and all those firsts coming out of biotech companies, research centres and labs. We work every day to find stories and newsworthy data, position ourselves in public and political debate with a solid science foundation and find a novel way to share biotechnology’s potential to improve people’s lives and protect the planet. 

We run campaigns on social media, national and international newsletters and dynamic, audiovisual content; we draft press releases for anyone interested, pool sources in reports, organise training and events, and discover new companies and expert voices through interviews and daily meetings. All of this with the goal of creating a gallery of content that is rigorous, varied, specific and accessible through all our dissemination channels.

  • To help us in this ambitious task, we coordinate a Communication workgroup with the following main aims: to take news stories beyond our borders, to give voice to members about the year’s milestones and to work with journalists to help them become more familiar with our disruptive industry and the solutions and innovations it contributes to our daily lives.