The fifth issue of Scico+ magazine analyses the evolution of science communication from the early 1980s to the era of the web, social media and digital platforms.

The editorial in this issue is dedicated to Vittorio Silvestrini, the founder of the City of Science in Naples who unfortunately left us at the end of the summer, an international reference point for the scientific and science communication community.

This evolution of science communication also manifests itself in the teaching methods of science education for young children.

However, the new digital communication channels have become useful ‘tools’ for criminal organisations, exposing younger children to risks, and so this issue also discusses the need to control these new communication spaces.

The article by the Idis Foundation – Città della Scienza ‘Scientific Communication 2.0: The International Echo of Futuro Remoto‘, drawing a parallel with the transformation of the science popularisation event ‘Futuro Remoto’ from its origins to now, shows how science communication has evolved.

Futuro Remoto, Europe’s first event for the dissemination of scientific and technological culture, was born in 1987 from an idea of physicist Vittorio Silvestrini, who sadly passed away at the end of this summer.

Silvestrini was convinced that the computer revolution and technologies made knowledge widespread and accessible to all and that this process therefore strengthened democracy.

The first Futuro Remoto was born in October 1987 out of this awareness. After 38 years, Futuro Remoto has acquired an international echo that stems from the power of digital communication.

This year, Futuro Remoto – scheduled from 18 October to 6 December 2024 – addresses the theme of CO-SCIENCE. Exploring the true and the false, order and disorder, right and wrong… As in every edition, Futuro events will let the public experience the cutting edge of science and its impact on quality of life, the environment and social well-being.

The Trinity College article ‘Science for the screen‘ and the article ‘Creativity and technology at school: a possible pairing’ by the Idis Foundation – City of Science show how digital communication for the one and the use of technology in the other are examples of the evolution of communicating science to children. The Trinity Collage article shows how science television programmes for children have evolved from TV to digital platforms; the article by the Idis Foundation – City of Science shows how technologies can also stimulate children’s creativity in learning processes. In both articles, reference is made to STEAM.

Finally, the article ‘The Evolution of Digital Communication in Criminal Organisations’ by DATA BANK prompts one to reflect on the fact that criminal organisations are also evolving using digital spaces and how this exposes adolescents to various dangers.

In the ‘News’ section of this issue of the magazine, you will find dates and information about international science conferences that will take place by the end of 2024.

Finally, the ‘News from SCICO+’ presents the state of the art of the project discussed at the 4th transnational meeting held at the Navet Science Centre in Sweden in June this year.