ESA receives $213,500 NPS award to support Science Communications initiative

New River Gorge, WV

By the ESA Education and Diversity Office

“Science isn’t finished until it’s communicated.” ~ Sir Mark Walport, UK Government Chief Scientific Adviser.

As we continue to face extreme stress from changes in climate and related environmental issues, we are challenged to look toward solutions that increasingly call for public understanding and support.  The National Park Service (NPS), with its mission to safeguard special places and share their stories, has recognized that science communications is a critical part of that mission. Enter, the new Science Communications in the Parks (SCIP) initiative.

SCIP will support six (6) ESA SciComm Fellows in cooperation with NPS to assist with communications related to high-profile regional resource initiatives that are addressing the impacts of climate change and other stressors.  Initial projects will focus on the Northeastern National Parks.  The project is made possible with a $213,500 grant for the first three years from the NPS through the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) program.  Additional funding for future years is anticipated.

Annual cohorts of Fellows will receive a $3000 stipend, participate in a collaborative product design experience, receive professional development in SciComm, and support from a SciComm professional. Fellows will also gain access to NPS personnel for in-depth perspectives of science in the national parks.

Sir Walport, addressing the 2013 Royal Society Meeting, went on to say “The communication to wider audiences is part of the job of being a scientist, and so how you communicate is absolutely vital.”  We couldn’t agree more.

“This is an amazing opportunity for ESA to contribute both to NPS SciComm needs and offer professional development for students and early career scientists,” said Teresa Mourad, Director of Education and Diversity Programs and SCIP Project Director.  “We seek to benefit from the growing awareness that effective SciComm is a process of meaning-making rather than a mass of facts to be placed in front of an audience”.

The project will involve a broad range of audiences including NPS leadership, regional park staff, and external audiences including community organizations, park visitors and other government agencies.  Brian Mitchell, NPS Research Coordinator/Science Advisor, North Atlantic Coast CESU remarked that,  “Providing year-long mentoring and support for Fellows to design SciComm products for technical and non-technical audiences will be an incredible learning experience for all involved. I am particularly looking forward to seeing the creative approaches that a new generation of multimedia-savvy Fellows will use to convey scientific ideas and connect people to their parks”.

“We are also very excited that the SciComm training program developed for SCIP will be open to all ESA members so this project will impact many more people and communities,” said Jon Miller, ESA Director of Membership and Communications and co-Project Director. 

ESA is home to 40 sections and chapters that gather on science, community, and communications, including the Communications and Engagement Section. This project will provide a pathway to connect on climate-smart science as Fellows tap the expertise within ESA for feedback on their efforts.

Brian Mitchell, Research Coordinator/ Science Advisor North Atlantic Coast CESU	Teresa Mourad, Director of Education & Diversity Programs Ecological Society of America	Jon Miller Director of Membership & Communications Ecological Society of America