Mediatization of a Research Group: The Estonian Student Satellite ESTCube-1

Abstract

Increased interactions between researchers and the media can change the individual and collective practices in science due to the considerations about media logic. This article uses the example of the team behind the Estonian satellite ESTCube-1 to describe the process of mediatization and its impacts on the research project. The quick and extensive adaption to media logic by the team can be attributed to the interplay of three elements: the role of the group leader, participation in media trainings, and regular interactions with the media. This article provides a model of how micro-level mediatization is likely to take place in science.

The types of visible scientists

“…The project achieved high visibility in Estonia, releasing 30 press releases and generating 160 original media items during the course of the project between 2008 in 2015 [Olesk, 2019a]. The nature of media coverage and data gathered with interviews about the media attitudes and practices of the team members support the conclusion that the group became mediatized during the project [Olesk, 2019b;Olesk, 2019a]. For a detailed description of the satellite project and the sample, please see [Olesk and Noorma, 2021;Olesk, 2019b].…”

“…17-18]. Here, considering the recent intensification of the science-media relationship, the concept of "mental mediatization" allows us to understand (and investigate) mediatization as a phenomenon that is manifesting itself via the perceived understandings of media logic by individuals, and the influence of these perceptions on their actions [Olesk, 2019b]. Already Goodell noted some changes that we now can label as signs of mediatization.…”

“…In a meta-analysis Peters [2013] shows that most scientists consider visibility in the media important and responding to journalists a professional duty. Several studies on mediatization of science [Olesk, 2019b;Peters, 2013;Rödder, 2009;Rödder and Schäfer, 2010;Scheu, Volpers et al, 2014] have given indications that scientific actors have a perception of a distinct media logic. Other proposed hallmarks, summarized by Rödder and Schäfer [2010], Schäfer [2014] and Rödder [2009] include promoting research results through press conferences, sometimes even before the official scientific publication, and the proactive use of promotional metaphors such as the 'catastrophe' discourse in climate research.…”

Considerations for Eco-LeanSat Satellite Manufacturing and Recycling

“…The latter was a novel deorbiting technology that employed Coulomb drag between the ionospheric plasma and a long, charged tether [151][152][153]. A similar experiment was conducted on board ESTCube-1 [154,155]. (g) In 2018, HyperScout-1 became the first hyperspectral imager for nanosatellites [156].…”

Can Communities Produce Complex Technology? Looking Into Space for Insight

“…Most ESTCube members tended to use jargon and technical terminology when communicating their work and findings, which complicated both the coordination between subsystem teams and the communication with external parties. To solve this issue, ESTCube members take communication skills training and are generally encouraged to publicly talk and write about their work (Olesk, 2019). For internal communication, like task coordination or decision making, ESTCube first adopted an Estonian communication platform called Fleep (Liibert, 2017) and later moved into the opensource oriented Discord platform.…”