Scienco

Scienco is an interdisciplinary field that studies the social, political, and organizational dimensions of science and innovation, including how scientific knowledge is produced, communicated, funded, and integrated into policy and practice. The term serves as a portmanteau used by scholars to describe work that sits at the intersection of science studies, public policy, science communication, and organizational management.

The concept emerged in the early 21st century as researchers sought a unifying framework for analyzing science in society. It draws on traditions from the sociology of science, science and technology studies, and policy analysis, while adapting methods from management and communications research.

Scope and methods include governance of research funding, evidence-based policymaking, risk and crisis communication, citizen science, open data practices, research evaluation, and ethical considerations in innovation. Researchers use case studies, discourse analysis, stakeholder mapping, network analysis, and program evaluation to study how science interacts with institutions and the public.

Education and practice: academic programs may offer master's degrees, doctoral tracks, or professional certificates in scienco or related concentrations. Careers commonly include policy analysis, science communication, research management, program coordination, and public-engagement roles in universities, government, or industry.

Reception and critique: some observers view scienco as a broad umbrella that risks overlapping with existing fields such as science studies, science communication, and public administration. Proponents argue that the framework helps coordinate research and policy efforts toward more transparent, evidence-informed decision-making.

See also: science policy, science communication, science and technology studies.