Monday, August 7, 1-2:30 pm
Organizers: Alice Levine, Carla D'Antonio

What are the obstacles hindering communication and interaction between scientists and the media, and what can these groups do to resolve them so they can work together to create a better-informed, more scientifically literate society?

Communicating science to society is an obligation shared by scientists and the media alike. Naturally, both must work together to achieve this common goal. This has not proved to be easy, though, partly due to negative stereotypes. Is the media only interested in sensationalism? Are scientists truly bigheaded and unable to communicate without jargon? Not so, and these typecasts can be disregarded with a little effort from both sides so that the communication divide may be bridged. If you would like to discuss these and other problems between scientists and the media and learn how they can be overcome, then come to this special session. Dynamic speakers with backgrounds in news, radio, and environmental journalism, public relations and leadership training, and academia will be present. Come hear these individuals share their experiences and address how scientists and the media can work together to create a better-informed, more scientifically literate society.

Schedule Overview:
The following four topics will be addressed during the session:
1. What are the obstacles hindering communication between scientists and the media?
2. What can scientists/researchers do to encourage relationships with the media? And vice versa.
3. Where does the media get most of its science information, that is in turn presented to the public?
4. What kind of science information does and doesn’t reach the public?

Speakers:
1. Alice Levine (15 min talk + 5 min q/a discussion)
2. Dale Willman (20 min talk + 10 min q/a discussion)
(former NPR and CNN Radio correspondent, and Executive Editor of Field Notes Productions –
3. Jessica Brown (20 min talk + 10 min q/a discussion)
(Ocean Science Outreach Specialist for SeaWeb’s COMPASS program, and leadership trainer with the Aldo Leopold Leadership Program)