In today’s world, it feels that scientific facts are increasingly under attack. As scientists, it’s tempting to reply by quoting impressive figures and statistics, brandishing our graphs, trying to win the argument. But winning the argument isn’t the same as winning the person.In a piece for Naturejobs by Dr. Eileen Parkes of Queen’s University Belfast, she argues that winning […]
A Science Blog
A Science Blog
Do you have something to say about science communication and looking for a good forum? Please see our pitching guide and then email blog@sciencetalk.org with your pitch and we’ll discuss the details.
Show Them What You Mean
In the public’s view microbiology is an abstract science that is not easily seen nor understood. To help visualize the science, many microbiology instructors do a basic experiment on the first day of class – environmental swabs. Using what is essentially a fancy Q-tip®, students swab cell phones, backpacks, table tops, and water bottles. Anything people can […]
At the Starting Block
You’re standing at the lectern, ready to deliver the opening lines of your talk. What do you say first? If this is a conference talk, chances are you start by thanking the organizers for inviting you to speak, then the audience…or if it’s a seminar, you might start with how happy you are to be there…blah blah […]
How to Explain Scientific Consensus… With Cake
I recently gave a presentation on how to talk science to normal people. After I finished there was the usual question and answer. One of the audience asked me a fairly simple question, which I sadly fumbled. “How do you explain scientific consensus to someone who doesn’t agree?” I don’t remember the rambling answer I gave […]
How to Write About Science so Everyone Understands
Communication is very much like marketing, where how you say something depends entirely on who you are talking to. For example, this blog is for casual readers with various types of education and background. I prefer to write content here in a very causal and conversational tone. I’m okay starting a sentence with a conjugation […]
ScienceTalk.org
Well, it is official…we are no longer Science Talk NW. We Are Science Talk. Or if you prefer, we are ScienceTalk.org. We don’t judge…you can choose how you want to say it.
Let’s Work Together
We thought it would be good to have someplace on this website to discuss and promote opportunities for public engagement, or something similar. Message boards are so 2008, blogs reign supreme…. Let’s start the discussion. Post in the comments any links to online and face to face opportunities to put scicomm skills into practice. Or send us a […]
