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…
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…
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…
This week, Becky Barak responds to the #MySciComm questions! Becky is a co-founder of Plant Love Stories, which we will be featuring at the Communication and Engagement Section’s booth* during ESA 2018! Please visit us to share your Plant Love Story!
The C&E Section’s 2017 annual report was submitted to ESA in July 2018. The report is available for viewing and download on the section reports/bylaws page. You’ll see, as you read the annual report, that there are a number of initiatives and ideas in the works for the next year. Please contact us if you are interested in contributing, time, funding, expertise, or networking…
“In many ways, Alan Alda represents an archetype of one type of audience member that people try to reach with their science communications. He is a non-expert. He’s interested in a range of scientific topics from health to psychology to ecology. He is exceptionally curious. If this sounds like one of your regular target audiences, then this book is for…
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…
I feel like I have found a reference to keep on my shelf for the rest of my career […] In fact, after reading Writing Science in Plain English, I want to go back and edit every journal article I have ever written. ~S. Bayer What is the reviewer’s motive (expertise, curiosity, sharing lessons learned, etc.) and perspective (research scientist,…
When I first read this book, I was so inspired that I set out to transform every lecture in my Gen-Ed course into a TED talk. ~ J. Purrenhage What is the reviewer’s motive (expertise, curiosity, sharing lessons learned, etc.) and perspective (research scientist, educator, science communicator, etc.)? I am a scientist and a science educator. As a lecturer in…
We know we’ve posted a lot in the last week, but when our chairperson-elect picked this photo to start our April newsletter, we just had to share a backstory with you. Check your email tomorrow for the newsletter featuring this photo and more! What’s with the egret and Terrebonne Parish? Well, this spring, the C&E Section has developed a strong connection…
Our SciComm/Engagement Lit Review series launches this week! The Lit Review series features contributed reviews of books and other scicomm and engagement resources. Reviews provide unique content about lit that has direct or indirect relevance to the wide range of scicomm careers, approaches, and interests of Section members. We seek SciComm/Engagement Lit Reviews (book review-style), and we welcome co-authored reviews.
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…
This week, Dr. Caitlin Looby, a SciComm Section member, responds to the #MySciComm questions! Caitlin Looby is a scientist and a freelance science writer. She earned her PhD in Biology from the University of California, Irvine, her M.S. in Biotechnology at Kean University, and her B.S. in Molecular and Cellular Biology at the University of Connecticut. During graduate school, Caitlin…