News & Blog — Page 5

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

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…

We are super excited for #ESA2018 in New Orleans. We have been working hard to plan a useful and fun collection of communication and engagement events, and we want to connect with you if you will be in New Orleans.

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…

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!

  Like we did last year, we’re sharing some tips for using and doing social media for #scicomm and #sciengage efforts at #ESA2018. The conference launches the first weekend of August, and the official hashtag is #ESA2018. Use #ESASciComm and/or #EngageESA if you’re joining/tracking along with the Communication & Engagement Section and discussions, sessions, and more on C&E topics. ESA 2018 annual meeting…

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 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 anticipation of #ESA2018, we’re sharing a guest post from Dr. Elita Baldrige, co-founder of the ESA Inclusive Ecology Section, which she published with us back in July 2018.   Part of being an effective science communicator is making certain that all of your audience is able to interact with your message. ~Dr. E. Baldridge Here’s a link to the…

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…

“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…

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…