By the Editorial Team | Journal of Latin American Sciences and Culture

As Voices of Science enters its second season in 2026, the initiative is evolving beyond science communication toward a broader ambition: helping build a culture in which science is accessible, shared, questioned, and woven into everyday life.

The first season, broadcast twice monthly, brought together scientists, educators, researchers, and community voices from Latin America and beyond to explore issues ranging from synthetic biology and climate change to energy sustainability, women in research, ancestral knowledge, artificial intelligence, and disinformation.

At the heart of the initiative is a simple conviction: Science is a fundamental human right.

When scientific knowledge remains confined to laboratories, universities, or specialized communities, its transformative potential is limited. Voices of Science seeks to open that knowledge to broader audiences while creating space for genuine dialogue between researchers and society.

From Science Communication to Science CultureThe podcast is part of a broader effort led by the Journal of Latin American Sciences and Culture (JLASC), the Andean Road Countries for Science and Technology (ARCST), Univalle Online, and the Strategic and Digital Communication program at UNIVALLE’s La Paz campus.

Together, these partners are developing initiatives that connect scientific knowledge with education, public communication, cultural understanding, and social participation.

This work is guided by the emerging paradigm of Science Culture Construction (SCC) .

SCC understands science not simply as the production and transmission of knowledge, but as a dynamic cultural ecosystem in which science interacts with education, innovation, governance, public participation, cultural values, and international cooperation. In this vision, a podcast is more than a communication channel—it becomes a space for co-creating shared understanding, where scientists and society meet, exchange perspectives, challenge assumptions, and build trust.

A Platform for Dialogue in an Age of DisinformationThe first season demonstrated the importance of accessible, evidence-based conversations at a time when scientific information increasingly competes with misinformation, manipulation, and AI-generated content.

This mission closely aligns with UNESCO’s Media and Information Literacy (MIL) framework, which emphasizes critical engagement with information, responsible navigation of digital environments, and building trust in information and digital technologies (UNESCO, 2025). Voices of Science contributes to these goals by encouraging critical thinking, evidence-based discussion, and the ability to distinguish reliable information from manipulation.

The initiative also reflects the priorities of the UNESCO International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development (2024–2033) , particularly its emphasis on strengthening scientific capacity and ensuring that the benefits of science and innovation reach communities worldwide (UNESCO, 2026).

The same principle extends to artificial intelligence. Through its engagement with questions about technology, trust, governance, and public understanding, Voices of Science contributes to the broader conversation promoted by the AI for Good movement: how technological progress can serve humanity while addressing equity, responsibility, and trust (International Telecommunication Union, 2026).

From One-Way Communication to Mutual DialogueThe Royal Society’s 2026 report, Science for Society, reinforces a central principle of Voices of Science: public engagement with science must evolve from simply delivering knowledge toward two-way dialogue and mutual shaping (Royal Society, 2026).

The report also emphasizes the importance of equipping researchers with communication skills so they can engage effectively with wider audiences and help counter misinformation—a recommendation that directly validates the podcast’s approach (Royal Society, 2026, p. 63).

This is precisely the space Voices of Science seeks to occupy. Scientists are not presented simply as distant experts delivering information. They become participants in a broader conversation—one in which questions, experiences, cultural perspectives, and public concerns also matter.

Open Science, Shared KnowledgeThe initiative is also consistent with the principles of Open Science , including the broader goal of making knowledge more accessible and strengthening collaboration between scientific communities and society.

As NASA describes it, open science is “a collaborative culture enabled by technology that empowers the open sharing of data, information, and knowledge within the scientific community and the wider public to accelerate scientific research and understanding” (NASA, 2026). For Voices of Science, accessibility is therefore not simply a matter of making scientific information easier to understand. It is part of a larger commitment to democratizing participation in scientific culture.

Science Beyond the StudioThe work of Voices of Science extends beyond the podcast itself.

Team members have participated in international book fairs and other public events focused on scientific literacy, science communication, and the relationship between formal scientific knowledge and ancestral wisdom. The initiative has also supported activities with children facing serious health challenges, using curiosity and scientific discovery as sources of engagement and inspiration.

Through complementary initiatives such as Biopochito AI , which has reached more than 100,000 children across 15 countries, the broader network is also working to cultivate scientific curiosity from an early age (Cabero Z., 2026).

These activities share a common objective: to move science from the margins of public life into the cultural fabric of society.

A Collaborative EffortThe development of Voices of Science has been made possible by a dedicated and multidisciplinary team:

• Prof. Yelka Aguilera Santos, Science Engagement and Public Communication Officer at JLASC and host of Voices of Science, guides conversations that bring scientific expertise into accessible and meaningful public dialogue. Her communication skills, cultural sensitivity, and commitment to inclusivity have defined the podcast’s tone and reach.

• Lic. Daniela Urquiola, Director of Communication and Digital Media at Univalle, for her steadfast support of scientific dissemination and her commitment to advancing the Voices of Science podcast. Her support has been essential in ensuring that science reaches broader audiences through Univalle’s digital platforms, strengthening the connection between academia and society.

• Lic. Rafael Portugal, General Producer at Univalle Online, leads audiovisual production and ensures the program’s professional quality and consistency. His technical expertise and creative vision have made the podcast a model of effective science communication in Latin America.

• Prof. Dr. Marco A. Cabero Z. , Chairman of ARCST and Editor-in-Chief of JLASC, whose intellectual leadership and the Science Culture Construction paradigm provide the initiative’s philosophical foundation. His vision has shaped the podcast’s strategic direction and its integration with broader efforts to democratize scientific knowledge across the Andean region and beyond.

The wider JLASC editorial team—comprising editors, reviewers, designers, and communications professionals—has also contributed significantly to the initiative’s growth. Their work behind the scenes ensures that every episode is produced to the highest standards and that the broader infrastructure supporting Voices of Science remains sustainable and effective.

We also acknowledge the students and young communicators from UNIVALLE’s Strategic and Digital Communication program, whose enthusiasm, creativity, and dedication continue to shape the future of science communication in Bolivia and beyond.

Season 2: The Conversation ContinuesWith its second season, Voices of Science will continue exploring some of the most urgent scientific and social questions of our time, including climate change, biodiversity loss, artificial intelligence, sustainability, scientific literacy, and the relationship between science and society.

But Season 2 is intended to do more than continue a podcast. It is part of a larger effort to build Science Culture Construction as a framework for connecting scientific knowledge with education, culture, public participation, innovation, and sustainable development.

ARCST’s recent invitation to co-host a high-level side event at the 11th United Nations Multi-stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals (STI Forum) reflects the growing relevance of these questions within international science and policy discussions.

The next season therefore begins with a larger question:

What happens when science stops being something that society receives—and becomes something that society helps build?

Voices of Science invites scientists, educators, students, policymakers, communicators, and communities to join that conversation.

Because science transforms the world through discovery. It transforms humanity when discovery becomes culture.

Join the ConversationSeason 2 begins in 2026. Subscribe and become part of the conversation.

Follow Voices of Science and join us as we continue building bridges between science and society.

Contact us: editorial@journalasc.org
Journal website: https://revistas.univalle.edu/index.php/jlsc
Watch and listen: Univalle Online — Facebook and YouTube

ReferencesCabero Z., M. A. (2026). Open Science, Dialogue of Knowledge Systems, and the Role of Public Science Communication. Journal of Latin American Sciences and Culture, 8(12), 1-2. https://doi.org/10.52428/27888991.v8i12.1623

Cabero, M. A. (2023). A new blueprint of collaboration: The Science Culture Construction fostering innovation and green development. Journal of Latin American Sciences and Culture, 5(8), 99–109. https://doi.org/10.52428/27888991.v5i8.1075

Cabero, M., Pérez, J., Ojeda, M. L., Zhang, Z., Lim, T., Hashmi, I., Liu, Z., de Castro, D., Montoya, G., & Wade, D. (2024). Enhancing science and climate literacy in Latin America and the Caribbean. Journal of Latin American Sciences and Culture, 6(9), 15–21. https://doi.org/10.52428/27888991.v6i9.1206

Canencio, J. G. P., Solarte, M. L. O., Burbano, D. F. C., Terán, C. A. R., & López, A. O. (2022). Course-awareness workshop on climate change: Expected learning results that each participant must acquire. Journal of Latin American Sciences and Culture, 4(6), 61–67. https://doi.org/10.52428/27888991.v4i6.361

de la Quintana, J. C. R. (2022). The Bolivian declaration on science and climate literacy. Journal of Latin American Sciences and Culture, 4(Special Issue), 34–36. https://doi.org/10.52428/27888991.v4iSpecial-Issue.211

Miller, J. D. (2004). Public understanding of, and attitudes toward, scientific research: What we know and what we need to know. Public Understanding of Science, 13(3), 273–294. https://doi.org/10.1177/0963662504044908

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. (2016). Science literacy: Concepts, contexts, and consequences. National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/23595

International Telecommunication Union. (2026). AI for Good Global Summit 2026. ITU. https://aiforgood.itu.int/

NASA. (2026). Open science essentials. NASA Science. https://science.nasa.gov/open-science/training/

Ojeda Solarte, M. L., Pérez Canencio, J. G., Cuero Gamboa, C. A., Guevara Bejarano, J. E., & Pérez Ojeda, M. A. (2024). Building a scientific culture by popularizing Green Science: challenges and opportunities. Journal of Latin American Sciences and Culture, 6(9), 15–21. https://doi.org/10.52428/27888991.v6i9.1195

Pérez Canencio, J. G., Ojeda Solarte, M. L., Mondragón Valencia, F. A., Álvarez Gutierrez, N., & Caicedo Arias, E. J. (2022a). Taller de sensibilización frente al cambio climático: Implementación en la Universidad EAM en Colombia. Journal of Latin American Sciences and Culture, 4(6), 72–77. https://doi.org/10.52428/27888991.v4i6.363

Royal Society. (2026). Science for society: How society and science shape each other. The Royal Society. https://royalsociety.org/scienceforsociety

UNESCO. (2025). Media and information literacy for all. UNESCO. https://www.unesco.org/en/media-information-literacy

UNESCO. (2026). Science at a turning point: First global review of the International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development (2024–2033). UNESCO.