By Jonathan Sharp
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Communicating Science: Bridging the Great Divide Jonathan Sharp www.scientiapublications.com online podcast (http://udcapture.udel.edu/ SNAP-IT UP WORKSHOP Researcher Communicating Science: podcast/watch.php?c=531). The third workshop in 2013, titled Snap it up — Why aren’t they listening? (Ocean Sciences advice from Hollywood for short presentations, Profile Meeting in Honolulu, Hawaii; 2014) - This focused on scientific presentations given to discussion once again focused on the barrier fellow scientists at conferences. The Hollywood Jonathan H. Sharp Bridging the Great Divide Professor Emeritus of Oceanography in the between scientists and the public, and the media team attended and evaluated a few School of Marine Science and Policy Making science engaging and fun is an art, and getting the public interested in science is a science in itself. An initiative led by general public apathy towards what scientists talks. Then, at the workshop on the following University of Delaware, College of Earth, Ocean Jonathan Sharp, Professor Emeritus of the University of Delaware, aims to train scientists in the finer art of science communication to help have to say. day, they gave critiques (largely positive) and & Environment them better communicate their research. suggested small improvements that would What can you do, and should not do to inform make the talks more engaging to a broader the public about environmental problems? audience. In this case, the target audience is Professor Jonathan H. Sharp received a Ph. D (Aquatic Sciences Meeting in Granada, a broad multi-disciplinary group of peers, as in Oceanography from Dalhousie University Spain; 2015) - Panelists discussed outreach opposed to a small group of fellow specialists. (Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada) in 1972. After activities that they and fellow scientists had completing a stint as a Post-graduate Research conducted to communicate science to the The Snap it up workshop was included in the Biologist at Scripps Institution of Oceanography public, and addressed issues that were likely 2014 Ocean Sciences Meeting and the 2015 he joined the University of Delaware, where to result in a poor public reception by an Aquatic Sciences Meeting, but the Scintillation he served as a Professor until his retirement already disinterested audience, notably ‘doom workshop was replaced with the Connection in 2014. Professor Sharp’s primary research and gloom’ scenarios sometimes used by Workshop, outlined below. interests lie in estuarine, coastal, and open- environmental scientists to get their message ocean oceanography and in translating Hollywood actor Brian Palermo instructs participants on communication skills at the Connection Workshop at the ASLO Aquatic Sciences Meeting held across. CONNECTION WORKSHOP research for natural resource management. in Granada Spain in February 2015 Following the 2013 Scintillation Workshop, the He has received several awards and honours There is increasing pressure on scientists to to a general audience, hands-on training To address these shortcomings, Professor Sharp VIDEO WORKSHOP presenters released a mobile app and a book recognizing his contribution to science and explain their research to a wider audience, is much needed. Recognizing the need for organized a series of training workshops and Several years ago, scientists started making titled: Connection: Hollywood Storytelling teaching. He was inducted into the Delaware including decision-makers, news journalists training opportunities in this regard, Jonathan panel discussions at ASLO Aquatic Sciences their own videos to explain their research; meets Critical Thinking. This theme was carried Maritime Hall of Fame in 2008, and received a and the general public. Yet while scientists have Sharp, Professor Emeritus of Oceanography Meetings and Ocean Sciences Meetings (jointly however, most lacked the skills needed to make forward for the 2014 and 2015 Connection Lifetime Achievement Award from Delaware experience in communicating their research at University of Delaware’s School of Marine sponsored by ASLO, the Ocean Sciences Section these videos interesting and appealing to a Workshops, where participants learned Estuary Program in 2011 (later named after to fellow scientists, most researchers lack the Science and Policy, launched an initiative to of the American Geophysical Union, and The public audience. To address this, Randy Olson, improvisation techniques to help boost self- him). skills and training needed to present technical train scientists in the art of communicating Oceanography Society) with input from science a former scientist who traded an academic confidence and help them come across less stiff scientific information to a non-scientific their research to a wider audience, in an communication specialists, media professionals career in marine biology for a career as an and imposing to a public audience, as well as CONTACT audience in a manner that will capture and hold effort to bridge this gap. This effort has been and non-scientists. The workshops provide independent filmmaker and communication how to inject humour into their presentations to T: +1 302-645-4259 its attention. in collaboration with Dr. Adrienne Sponberg, scientists with training on a variety of consultant in Hollywood, presented a workshop help them connect with an audience and make E: [email protected] Director of Communications and Science of communication skills, including how to produce on how to make short science videos at the an audience more receptive. For science to make a real impact on the the Association for the Sciences of Limnology short science videos and how to communicate 2008 Ocean Sciences Meeting. Following on KEY COLLABORATORS FOR COMMUNICATIONS world, it is essential that scientific findings are and Oceanography (ASLO), and Randy Olson, with the general public. Launched in 2008, these from this initial workshop, video analysis FUTURE TRAINING ACTIVITIES disseminated to the world at large rather than an independent Hollywood filmmaker with a training sessions were initially supported by workshops were held at subsequent Ocean The Snap it Up and Connection workshops Dr. Adrienne Sponberg, Director of limited to an audience consisting of a handful of background in evolutionary biology and marine ASLO. Due to the keen interest shown in the Sciences and Aquatic Sciences Meetings, where have both been scheduled for the 2016 Ocean Communications and Science of the fellow scientists. For example, for the broader science. training workshops and discussions, and thanks the emphasis shifted to screening, critiquing Sciences Meeting, and Professor Sharp hopes to Association for the Sciences of Limnology and public to understand the importance of taking to funding from the Ocean Sciences Division and discussing videos submitted by scientists continue the workshops and expand their reach Oceanography (ASLO) action to combat climate change, they need According to Professor Sharp, there are several of the US National Science Foundation, these for analysis. Over the ensuing five years, the in the future. Dr. Randy Olson, marine biologist turned to understand the causes and impacts, how factors that contribute to poor performance training workshops have continued annually, quality of videos submitted by workshop Hollywood filmmaker and communications it will affect them, and what can be done to in terms of communication and outreach by and extended into 2016. participants has improved considerably, which “The Hollywood workshops have been well consultant prevent or mitigate these impacts. This needs aquatic scientists. First, many scientists lack is partly attributed to the workshops. received and by participant evaluations and Brian Palermo Hollywood actor and instructor to be communicated in clear and simple terms interest in taking part in outreach activities as PANEL DISCUSSIONS our own analysis are both successful and in improvisational acting and communications in a manner that will engage this audience and they either do not have experience or do not Panel discussions were introduced at recent SCINTILLATION WORKSHOP valuable to continue in the future,” said Sharp. consultant. stimulate debate, thought and action. recognize the importance of communicating meetings to help scientists better understand To improve scientists communication skills “It is rewarding to find growing enthusiasm their research. Second, not enough emphasis is public perceptions and attitudes towards in other areas, including oral presentations and interest in these workshops and we FUNDING The public today is often overwhelmed by too placed on the importance of outreach activities science. The following panel discussions have and writing scientific papers and proposals, are receiving feedback from participants US National Science Foundation much “data” and is unable to translate this by their superiors and peers in the research been held to date: two additional events were added to the 2013 on how the workshops have changed their Association for the Science of Limnology and into information. Scientists, as experts in their community. But the biggest hurdle most Does Science Really Matter? (Ocean Sciences Aquatic Science Meeting: 1) a Scintillation presentations.” Oceanography field, are routinely interviewed by the news scientists face in effectively communicating Meeting in Orlando, Florida; 2008) - This workshop, and 2) a Snap it Up Workshop. These University of Delaware, School of Marine media on topics that affect humankind such