Foundation News: On Communications
Apr 28, 2021
Editor's note: This piece, written by Switzer Fellow Margaret Rubega, Robert Wyss and Robert Capers was originally published in The Conversation . Science is essential to solving many of society’s biggest problems, but it doesn’t always find a receptive audience. Today, when curbing COVID-19...Read more >
Apr 18, 2018
Fellow David Gonzalez reports on his experiences at the Switzer Spring Retreat Policy Communications Training and the UC Grad Research Advocacy Day.Read more >
Aug 17, 2017
Our communications training partner, COMPASS, has released an online version of the Message Box Workbook, designed to help you change the way you think and talk about your work.Read more >
Apr 19, 2017
Reducing the complexity of research on ocean ecosystems does not mean dumbing down your science, it means delivering science in a series of short chapters. If you can get the readers hooked, and don’t confuse them, you can tell a complex story. But that takes work and training that many scientists don’t have, writes Fellow Linwood Pendleton.Read more >
Mar 26, 2017
Many scientists fear repercussions from engaging around contentious subjects like climate change—anything from losing connections and opportunities, to jeopardizing their careers and credibility. But there are still productive conversations to be had, even in highly politicized environments. This interview by our communications training partner, COMPASS, provides insight into how to prepare to share science around politicized subjects.Read more >
Mar 7, 2017
Fellow Ryan Carle recently posted a request on our listserv for advice about crowdsourcing fundraising for conservation. Below is his original post and the responses he received from other Fellows. We are republishing them here because we thought the exchange might be useful to other Fellows in the future and invite you to add ideas or resources in the comments section.Read more >
Oct 3, 2016
A job in SciComm involves you communicating science, typically to laypeople but sometimes even to other scientists. Examples include formal science education in a classroom, informal education in a setting like a museum, outreach to various populations and science writing.Read more >
Jul 7, 2016
As schools let out and the days grow longer and hotter in the Northern Hemisphere, the busy buzz of the summer field season is often punctuated by a flurry of scientific conferences. Conferences are great places to work on your communication, share your science, and connect with new people.Read more >
May 10, 2016
At this year’s AAAS annual meeting, the volume of sessions and workshops about science communications clearly reflected the community’s growing appetite and interest. We’re notably moving past conversations about why scientists need to engage, and into conversations around how we can best support scientists to do so. Research shows that scientists do want to engage, but that they don’t have the time or resources to do it.Read more >
May 5, 2016
John Besley (Michigan State) and Anthony Dudo (University of Texas at Austin) are social scientists interested in the intersection of science, public engagement and communications. Their recent PLOS One paper described how scientists prioritize their communications objectives for public engagement.Read more >
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