Using Wikipedia as a knowledge transfer tool and to enhance spanish science dissemination

Abstract

Wikipedia is a helpful tool for students all over the world. However, the educative community considers Wikipedia a non-trustworthy source because anyone can edit articles. Publishing and improving articles by scientific experts may inspire more confidence in Wikipedia users as a tool of science diffusion to society. Besides, it is necessary to encourage and promote Spanish-language articles on Wikipedia and involve university students in the editing and generation of content. In this context, members of the Veterinary Medicine Faculty of the Complutense University of Madrid (UCM) have participated together with other Universities of Madrid in the project “Wikipedia Madrid+d. Creation and improvement of Spanish scientific articles”. This project has been developed by “Madrid+d Foundation for Knowledge” in collaboration with “Wikimedia Spain” and the Scientific Culture Unit (UCC+i) of the UCM. The goal of this project was to bring to the fore Spanish Science and improve Wikipedia's quality content in the Spanish language. We worked on several scientific articles related to veterinary and food science technology that were not described in Spanish language in Wikipedia or on underdeveloped articles that require improvement. Initially, our teacher's team was trained by Wikimedia Spain experts as Wikitutors. Afterward, Wikitutors trained a group of faculty undergraduate and postgraduate students. The students worked on the suggested scientific articles guided and supported by their tutors in an autonomous way. Five articles were finally assessed by area experts and published in Wikipedia. The average number of visits from September 2022 to November 2023 has been more than 19.000, with a monthly average of 1.274 visits. The work carried out by the team has contributed to achieving the objectives pursued and contributed to the dissemination of science in Spanish, remarking the fields of veterinary and food science technology, which are of great scientific and social importance. Besides, students expressed that this experience of transferring scientific knowledge was very motivating and constructive.