Happy November! We are excited to bring you a Communication and Engagement Section update. In this newsletter you will find: ESA news: ESA elections, ESA 2019, Section membership, and more Resource Highlights: MySciComm, Lit Reviews, Resource of the Week Professional Development Opportunities: Give a webinar or write a grant ICYMI Follow this link to read the full newsletter.
In lieu of a business meeting at ESA 2018 in New Orleans, we have opted to hold a digital business meeting. Our objectives are to make this meeting accessible even to members who may not have been able to attend if we held the meeting during #ESA2018 in New Orleans. Please mark your calendars for December 6 at 12:00 PM…
Excerpt from the paper Ten simple rules for drawing scientific comics: There are few scientists who haven’t heard of Randall Munroe, the artist behind the web comic “xkcd,” which features amazing graphic explanations on everything from climate change to data storage. These comics are widely appealing to a diverse audience and are posted on walls in laboratories and pubs alike. The ideas…
In the wake of #ImmodestWomen and other discussions about non-academic careers* pursued by those trained in the sciences comes a new graphic from the American Geosciences Institute. It is a timely and useful illustration of the many ways that science training can be, and is, a powerful component of careers in many sectors. Where do you fit on this inter-locking wheel?…
This week, Dr. David Bowne responds to the #MySciComm questions! David is an Associate Professor of Biology at Elizabethtown College, an ecologist, an author, and a happy husband and father of two. He has a Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences from the University of Virginia, a M.S. in Conservation Ecology and Sustainable Development from the University of Georgia, and a B.S….
Science communication and engagement, whether they are a full-time job or part of a job with additional responsibilities, take a lot of time to do well. So, Dr. Katie Grogan’s tweet thread about work-life balance and productivity which declines after working 50+ hours per week caught our attention. Throughout the thread, Dr. Grogan cites and links to articles from Nature,…
In a thought-provoking post about a problem few of us likely consider, Dr. Stephen Heard encourages us all to establish a power-of-attorney authorizing co-authors to proceed with publishing if we are unavailable (but not dead). He writes, “If a coauthor is unavailable for a few weeks, there’s rarely any harm in simply waiting for their return. However, when unavailability is…
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?…
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…
Our latest newsletter is out! Check it out for an update about ESA 2018 and 2019 annual meetings, the most recent posts in our MySciComm, Lit Review, and Resource of the Week series, and more. And, click here to subscribe directly. — Here’s more information about the difference between our newsletters and our blog publications.
Wowza, ESA 2018 was epic! There were nearly 40 sessions that related to communication and engagement, careers, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. Your C&E Section officers led, co-organized, or presented in 10 sessions, and section members were active in several more. We also led an invited workshop for ESA’s first career fair, held as part of the annual meeting. And,…
“If you have become frustrated, as I have, with the lack of action and public support of climate change research and proactive policy, this book will be an eye opener.” ~S. Burke What is the reviewer’s motive and perspective? I am a fourth year PhD student at the University of New Hampshire studying the effects of climate change on…
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….
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…
This week, Dr. David Shiffman responds to the #MySciComm questions! *Editor’s note: David is available Wednesday, August 29, 2018 (the date of publication) to answer questions you may have about what it’s like to be a science communicator, how he got into it, and sharks, of course! Connect with him in the comments, or on Twitter and Facebook (use #MySciComm so…
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