Strategic Science Communication: The “Flatten the Curve” Metaphor in COVID-19 Public Risk Messaging

Teresa Ruão is associated professor in the Communication Sciences Department at the University of Minho – Portugal. She has a PhD thesis in communication sciences – organizational communication. She was vice-president of the Social Sciences Institute and president of its Pedagogical Council, from 2010 to 2019, and is currently vice-head of the Communication and Society Research Centre. Researches and teaches on organizational and strategic communication, brands and public relations, applied to corporate communication, science communication, health communication or communication for innovation.

Sónia Silva has a PhD in communication studies: technology, culture and society in 2020, from the University of Minho, in partnership with the University Institute of Lisbon, the University of Beira Interior and the Lusophone University of Humanities and Technologies. She currently works as an invited assistant professor at the School of Human and Social Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro. She is a research fellow in the “Factory of the Future” project that results from the consortium between the University of Minho and Bosch. Sónia Silva’s research focuses on organisational and strategic communication, risk communication, crisis communication, social responsibility, organisational identity, brands, and public relations.