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advancing science communication — Page 3

Screenshot of paper, highlighting rule number one, which is "You don't have to be good at art."

Resource of the Week: 10 (ten) simple rules for drawing scientific comics

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…

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screen shot of several tweets discussing work-life balance. All text of these tweets is available at the link provided in the post accompanying this image.

Resource of the Week: The science supporting work-life balance and declining productivity after 40 hours/week

  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,…

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#MySciComm: You’re gonna need a bigger online outreach strategy: How Dr. David Shiffman uses social media to teach the world about sharks

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…

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Resource of the Week: SciComm Training Resources from SciFund Challenge

Excerpt from the SciFund classes web page detailing the free and not-free options they offer: “Interested in getting ahead in your scientific career? Interested in engaging the wider world with your research? Better communication is the key for both and SciFund Challenge has the classes that can help you to achieve your goals. SciFund Challenge is the communications department that…

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#SciComm resource round-up

#ESA2016 is in full swing, and #ESASciComm is a big topic this year. Between our smashing success #upgoESA Ignite session…. UM GUYS, #upgoESA was TRENDING on the Twitters! #scicomm FTW! #ESA2016 pic.twitter.com/NA2YgEEVWf — Dr. Holly Menninger (@DrHolly) August 9, 2016 …and our dynamic interactive scicomm workshop… Great #scicomm workshop & feedback on my outreach writing at #ESA2016 Thx to C.Hart…

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2016 Annual Meeting

Connecting and communicating about the conference via social media? Here are our hashtag recommendations: #ESASciComm & #ESA2016. Next, the following email newsletter was recently sent to all #ESASciComm Section members, along with non-members on our mailing list. If you’ll be/are at #ESA2016, please connect with us!

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#Sketchyourscience a hit at #ESA100…so what?

#sketchyourscience at #ESA100 settled it. This will be an #ESASciComm tradition for years to come! pic.twitter.com/Ta8YIVo5BZ — B.G. Merkle talkin’ abt Hard Things 😷✊🏽 (@commnatural) August 17, 2015 At ESA’s annual conference/meeting (#ESA100) our section had a booth at which we encouraged folks to sketch their science. We were blown away by how many people enthusiastically did so.

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#ESA100 SciComm Socializing

Next week’s theme: mmixxx, mix, mix, and mingle! If you aim to connect with fellow SciComm buffs and advocates, you will have loads of opportunities at #ESA100. Of course, there’s the SciComm Section workshop, “Communicating Science Vividly.” We’re also curating a list of SciComm-related activities being held throughout the annual meeting. And on an informal note, there are a few SciComm-specific…

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Drawn to Ecology: How sketch notes can enhance your science experience

Enhance your sketching toolkit at the #ESA100 “Communicating Science Vividly” workshop! Guest post by Bethann Garramon Merkle Everyone can sketch – even you. Sketching in the field to complement data collection? #doodling4science #outofthebox #scicomm #ESA2014 #pinkjuniper pic.twitter.com/VxEzvMpGbn — Dr. Pika Jo Varner (@johannavarner) August 10, 2014 Researchers have demonstrated that drawing (even without training) can: aid learning & memorization help clarify what…

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Tips for Enhancing SciComm Inclusiveness

Guest post by Elita Baldridge Part of being an effective science communicator is making certain that all of your audience is able to interact with your message.   Taking into consideration conditions or disabilities that your audience or a fellow presenter might have helps to extend your reach while facilitating inclusion of those with chronic illness/disability. As an ecologist with a…

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Ecological SciComm at the Frontier

It’s that time of the year – time to get your brain into ESA Annual Meeting Mode. You’re furiously finishing that data analysis in prep for a talk or poster. You’re checking out the Conference Program and getting your schedule in order. You’re registering for the meeting and arranging meet-ups with colleagues and collaborators. How about adding science communication to…

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Make a difference in ESA SciComm! Volunteers needed for…

In anticipation of the Baltimore meeting, we’re seeking volunteers for three SciComm efforts. 1. Help us staff the Science Communications Section booth in the exhibit hall (shared with the Education and Policy sections). Please email Clarisse Hart (hart3@nullfas.harvard.edu) with a 1-hour time slot you are willing to contribute during exhibit hours (Monday through Thursday 11am-1:30pm; 4-6:30 PM). 2. Are you interested in serving…

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A short guide to better PowerPoint presentations  

Written & illustrated by Simon J. Brandl I love conferences. But, during every scientific symposium I experience moments that leave me in stupefied disbelief. Why? At any given scientific conference innocent scientists are exposed to abysmally bad presentations. Since I’m unaware of a law that requires great science to be presented in a mind-blowingly boring way, this post highlights key…

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6 More SciComm Resources

If you cruised through our SciComm resources and Multimedia SciComm Guide thinking, “Read that. Yep, read that. Read that, too…” here are a few more SciComm resources you can explore. Some are fairly recent, and some are ‘oldies but goodies.’

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Multimedia SciComm Resource Guide

This resource guide is meant to inspire and empower – not only are there great examples, but we’ve provided practical advice about why, how, and when each media type can help you get your message across. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives 4.0 International License. Please review the license terms before reproducing. Our instructors and contributors…

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Workshop prep: Arrive prepared

Thanks for joining the fun! We are very intentionally offering a ‘tapas’ style taster of different ways you could communicate your science, and there will be a strong emphasis on storytelling. We want you to walk away with a sense of the unique strengths of these different media for powering science communication, and to develop some sense of preference for what you might…

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Resources: Science journalism

*This list is dynamic, and in-development. Feel free to make suggestions (use the comments section or contact us directly) re additional resources and great examples that should be included. INTERACTING WITH THE MEDIA Tips for dealing with reporters Tips for PR (public relations) writing Writing a Press Release: Death by Six-Shooter Peter Campbell, Public Information Officer – What does that Pete Campbell (of Mad…

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