Image: screenshot from the book’s website Looking for inspiration for how to communicate about the complex topics you study or work to share? We recently came across a graphic novel that might give you ideas. From the publisher: “Do you know what your brain is made of? How does memory function? What is a neuron and how does it work?…
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Image: screenshot from the submission guidelines page From Rapid Ecology’s About page: “Why Rapid Ecology? Science community blogs are often driving the conversation among ecologists, yet most of us do not have access to publishing in blogs. The visibility of a major blog shouldn’t be a resource limited to a small number of people. If you have something to say, and you’d like…
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Image: screenshot from the podcast web page From the Student Section: “We were motivated to start this series after reflecting on the idea that one of the best parts of the ESA annual meeting is the conversation that happens between talks and poster sessions. We’d like to capture a little bit of that conversational fun and sharing throughout the year….
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Image: screenshot from the article Excerpt from the article: “I don’t know if scientific conferences are ready for their own version of LiveNote, but if the Philadelphia Orchestra could figure out a way to work with Drexel University engineering faculty to be at the front of technology innovation and implementing new ideas, is it that far of a stretch to…
Image: screenshot from the article Excerpt from the article: “…the most dangerous kind of jargon isn’t the kind we notice. It’s the kind that slips by. When technical definitions hide behind words we use in everyday speech, the opportunities for miscommunication abound. The expert thinks she has been clear; the recipient thinks he has understood. And yet, both could be…
Image: screenshot from the article Listen to the audio version This article delves into scientific explanations for the truth in this quotation (in the article): “A man with a conviction is a hard man to change,” [Leon] Festinger, Henry Riecken, and Stanley Schacter wrote in When Prophecy Fails, their 1957 book about this study. “Tell him you disagree and he turns away….
Image: screenshot from the article Article about scientists’ relationship with non-specialists which takes the stance that “What some scientists seem to have forgotten is that each one of us is a member of the ‘general public’ in infinite contexts.” This is a philosophy we ascribe to in the Communication and Engagement Section, so we’re curious what you think of this…
Abstract: Twitter is a cold medium that allows users to deliver content-rich but small packets of information to other users, and provides an opportunity for active and collaborative communication. In an education setting, this social media tool has potential to increase active learning opportunities, and increase student engagement with course content. The effects of Twitter on learning dynamics was tested…
Image: screenshot from the guide This two-page advice guide from The University of Melbourne is full of handy tips that address the following topics: Consider your audience Consider your purpose Consider the structure Using PowerPoint slides Presenting technical material visually Dealing with questions Further resources
Image: screenshot from the article COMPASS‘s mission is: “to help scientists effectively share their knowledge in the public discourse and decision-making. We provide practical support for scientists to engage without compromising the accuracy of their science.” In addition to the trainings they offer, they also suggest resources, such as this list of suggestions on “How To: Build Better Presentations.” As…
Image: screenshot from the article We’re stepping a little outside our standard one-link-a-week format for this one. The TL;DR is that high contrast between background and text colors is important, and that for many users, black text on a white background is a) most legible and b) most professional-appearing. However, it’s complicated and user-dependent. Below are a few articles which…
Image: screenshot from the article Looking ahead to #ESA2018, we thought this resource might be handy! From the article: “…whether you have a town meeting, a public talk, or an upcoming event […] you still don’t have to default to the ‘general public!’ What do you know about the kind of audience the organizers are trying to reach? What kind of…
The American Geophysical Union has a pile of great resources for interacting with the media. Two we’re highlighting today are focused on helping you discern whether the science story idea you have is newsworthy. These tips apply whether you are trying to get press coverage or wanting to write about your own science. Description on YouTube: “What makes a good…
Image: screenshot from the article Share Your Science: Resources for Blogging and Op-Eds for Magazines, Newspapers and More Scientific American and the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science at Stony Brook University have launched a free, 5-episode, online series aimed at helping scientists and engineers write blogs and op-eds for magazines, newspapers and other news outlets. Browse the live-streamed public…
Image: screenshot from the podcast homepage on Soundcloud.com Warm Regards is a podcast about the warming planet. The show is hosted by meteorologist Eric Holthaus. Co-hosts are Jacquelyn Gill, a paleoecologist at the University of Maine, and Andy Revkin, a veteran journalist at ProPublica.
Image: screenshot from event announcement *Register ASAP if you are interested. There are limited spaces for both in-person and webcast.* From the National Academies’ event announcement: “Discussion and Response to the Report Tuesday, June 26, 2018 9:00 AM – 3:15 PM PT Irvine, CA How can academic institutions and other industries improve in the #MeToo era? Join us on June 26, 2018, 9:00 am…
The results are in, and Dr. Kirsten Schwarz will assume the chairperson-elect position after #ESA2018. Meet Kirsten: We are excited to keep up the Section momentum with Kirsten! She directs the Ecological Stewardship Institute at Northern Kentucky University. She is an urban ecologist who uses a transdisciplinary systems approach to understand how landscape patterns affect ecosystem services in cities. Community…
This week, Dr. Sara Kuebbing, of Plant Love Stories*, responds to the #MySciComm questions! Sara Kuebbing is a plant ecologist and conservation biologist who adores chickadees and mayapples. She is delighted to join the University of Pittsburgh’s Department of Biological Sciences this fall as an Assistant Professor. Sara’s most recent #MySciComm adventure is propagating Plant Love Stories, a website devoted…
Image: screenshot from the website Lady Science is an independent magazine that focuses on the history of women and gender in science, technology, and medicine, and provides an accessible and inclusive platform for writing about women on the web. The editors write, “In the spirit of the lady scientists of the past, as we work to recover their complex and…
Image: screenshot from the article “The Romantic stereotype that creativity is enhanced by a mood disorder is dangerous, and dissolves under careful scrutiny.” from @aeonmag As we’ve recently shared, stereotypes about who is or can be a scientist, who is or can be an artist, and how stereotypes of creativity play into these identities can be problematic. That’s why Christa…