This academic year (2021-2022), the Faculty of Social Sciences from the University of Antwerp launched a new social media campaign specifically to put a researcher’s or a team’s work in the spotlight. Videos are made and shared monthly to highlight the societal impact and relevance of social sciences research. In the videos, the researcher announces an expedition, to encourage people to look for objects or locations linked to the research theme of the month. People are encouraged to take photos and post them on Instagram or Facebook using the hashtag #ExpeditionSocialSciences.

We (the Belgian team) had already expressed interest in the social media campaign and a couple of months ago we were contacted by the science communicator to produce two videos about our SOLARIS research. First, a video to announce the expedition. Climate change increases flood risks, and the high degree of surface hardening in urban areas is one of the biggest challenges in tackling flood risks. We therefore challenged people to find locations in their neighbourhood where water can infiltrate the ground. A second video further explains the need for participation of local people to address flood risks, but that social inequalities can prevent people from preparing for or recovering after floods.

Both videos were launched in March 2022 on the social media platforms of the UA’s Faculty of Social Sciences. On Instagram, the videos reached about 500 accounts, whereas on Facebook over 3000. People actively participated in polls put out on Instagram or by sharing photos. Other partners were also contacted to participate in this campaign, such as the Flemish Environment Department, the Flemish Environment Agency (VMM) and Commonslab, who shared the videos or actively participated by posting photos of places where water can infiltrate the ground.

By co-organising the new Expedition Social Sciences of the University of Antwerp’s Faculty of Social Sciences we were able to highlight social scientific research on climate change adaptation and aimed to raise awareness about SOLARIS’s central themes.

By Mandy Paauw and Ann Crabbé, the Belgium SOLARIS team (18 May 2022)