20 April 2012
Overcoming misunderstandings and misleading data in climate science
People can misunderstand the science behind climate change, which in turn can lead to skepticism, said scientists and communicators at the fourth annual Climate Change Symposium, held 16 April at Northern Virginia Community College. They shared ideas about how to correct the often-misconstrued data about Earth’s changing climate.
Geoscientist Richard Alley presents newest films on Earth Day
It’s nothing new for Richard Alley to be “out there” when he communicates about science – just take a look this video parody of Johnny Cash he performed to illustrate subduction and the Pacific Ring of Fire. But in recent years, Alley, a professor at Pennsylvania State University in State College, took on a public communication role on a massive scale with the launch of a project called “Earth: The Operator’s Manual.” As part of the new effort, Alley stars in the PBS series of the same name that focuses on climate change and how people can deal with it.
15 March 2012
Three minutes to be like Sagan: Competition seeks short bits on science
Prove you’re the next Carl Sagan in three minutes or less. Now, go! That’s what young scientists, engineers and aspiring PhDs in the United States are being called to do – move an audience the way Sagan could, but in three minutes or less. Friday morning, a group of young speakers gathered at NASA headquarters in Washington, D.C., to give it a try.
23 January 2012
AGU Video: As their film debuts at Sundance, scientists call for simple, personal tales
Photographer and AGU member James Balog urges scientists to “show us the cool stuff” when communicating with non-scientists. Balog, the subject of the documentary film “Chasing Ice,” premiering Jan. 23 at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival, stopped by AGU headquarters in Washington, D.C., in early January to talk about the challenges and rewards of being a scientist-communicator.
29 November 2011
From Wanna-Be Reporter to Voice of America Journalist
After four busy summers studiously measuring the minute details of clouds, I spent my last summer as a graduate student in a newsroom, far away from the cockpit of a cloud-probing airplane. It was not just any newsroom but Voice of America’s politically charged newsroom in Washington, D. C. Almost overnight, this California-for-lifer was living and working amid the hustle and bustle of the nation’s capital. As a half researcher–half …
10 November 2011
From The S Factor Blog: Know Your Audience
Over the next few blog posts, I will be sharing some tips to aid our up-and-coming scientist-filmmakers in planning, developing, and executing better video storytelling. Some of the tips will be theoretical in nature, while others will focus on the technical craft of filmmaking. Today, we will discuss a critical component to developing effective media: Targeting an Audience.
24 October 2011
Improve Your Science Communication Skills at Fall Meeting
On the Sunday (12/4) before the scientific program begins, AGU is hosting a free, all-day training event for scientists wishing to become more adept at communicating with the press, the public, policymakers and other non-scientists. The event includes both a panel discussion about science communication and workshops where you will get to exercise your skills. Plus we’ll feed you lunch!
19 October 2011
Use your words (wisely)
The first day of organic chemistry, my professor warned us that we were about to start learning a new language. He wasn’t kidding, and ‘stoichiometry’** is still one of my favorite words. But the different definitions that scientists use for everyday terms can lead to confusion, and scientists should make sure they’re speaking the same language as their audiences. On our sister blog Mountain Beltway, Callan Bentley posted this table outlining some common examples.
13 October 2011
Science press decries elusive federal science experts, applauds better data access
Federal scientists should be more accessible to journalists, reporters said last week at a National Press Club event in Washington, D.C. The panel discussion “Access Denied: Science News and Government Transparency” addressed whether or not the Obama administration is living up to its promise to make science more transparent and accessible. And several journalists on the panel said there is still a ways to go.
30 September 2011
Scientists: Meet the journalists
Whenever I teach a media training workshop to scientists, I am pretty sure that two issues are going to pop up. The first is the inevitable question: “How can I review the story before it runs?” Scientists will be disappointed with that one, because the answer is, basically, sorry, you can’t. And the second issue is a litany of complaints about how journalists work: they oversimplify the science, their headlines …
The Plainspoken Scientist is an AGU blog on science communication, for scientists. With this blog, we at AGU wish to encourage scientists to reach out to the public and to do so with plainspoken discussion.
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