Matching science and society audiences. The case of the EU Drugs Agency

Abstract

The measurement of the impact of scientific activity has become a task of great importance in the current European research landscape. This study proposes a two-pronged strategy, integrating both social and scientific perspectives, with the aim of fostering a synergy between these two dimensions. Through a comparative analysis of data extracted from Twitter and Scopus, the scientific communication strategy of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) has been critically evaluated. The findings reveal that the main actors involved in both dimensions, the structure of the established collaborative relationships, and the discussed topics harbor peculiarities that are meticulously analyzed in this work. The research concludes that the adopted approach is pertinent for identifying significant opportunities for improvement in the strategic guidelines of the institution. Furthermore, it outlines future research lines, which aspire to delve deeply into the attained findings, thereby paving the way for substantial optimization in EMCDDA's communication strategy. This study posits itself as a valuable contribution in the field of scientific communication, offering significant insights for refining institutional policies in the European context.