Only 1 in 5 scientists do outreach. How many will actually march for science?

…and other challenges faced by March For Science organizers.

Like many scientists, I have often lamented that communication trends in the US, someone who should only half of Americans accept human evolution, a third have seen this statistic before, it was a staggering statistic. believe that astrology is scientific, and 1 in 4 disagree that Consider the math behind this problem; four the Earth revolves around the Sun1. This problem has fifths of the American public can’t name a single living been getting worse for as long as we’ve tracked it and, like scientists when there are 6 million professional scientists avoiding the dentist, much of the science community has in this country5. Don’t scientists have friends? If you been afraid to know how bad things have really gotten. include STEM degrees now working in other fields the An overwhelming majority of scientists (84%2) number of scientists balloons to more than 21 million. feel that limited public knowledge about science is a That’s 15% of the entire US population. Statistically, not serious concern. But despite describing science even our parents know that we’re scientists. communication as a duty, only 21% of scientists actually It’s probably time the the science community participate in any form of outreach or science does a little soul-searching and considers that maybe the communication3. That includes interviews, blogs, and public isn’t the problem. even social media. This March may be the first time that Bewildered STEM professionals around the many of them have ventured out of the lab at all. country are quickly mobilizing satellite marches in 3606 “…MAYBE THE PUBLIC cities. Local ad hoc committees are meeting over beers right now to solve the immense logistical and social ISN’T THE PROBLEM.” challenges of organizing a city-wide march on the fly. Yet Can you name a single living scientist? the first and most terrifying challenge is the one that they Because 81% of Americans, right now, can’t are least prepared to solve; how do we get scientists to 4 name one . As somebody who has studied science show up?

1 National Science Foundation. 2016. Science & Engineering Indicators Report, Ch 7. (NSB-2016-1).

2 Pew Research Center. 2015. “Public and Scientists Views on Science and Society.”

3 Ecklund, Elaine Howard, Sarah A. James, and Anne E. Lincoln. 2012. "How Academic Biologists and Physicists View Science Outreach." Plos ONE 7, no. 5: 1-5.

4 A Research!America survey of U.S. adults. 2016. http://www.researchamerica.org/polls-and-publications

5 https://www.nsf.gov/statistics/2016/nsb20161/#/report/chapter-3/highlights

6 https://www.marchforscience.com/satellite-marches/ Who cares about science?

Like many improvised marches so far in their participation will be framed and interpreted 2017, organizers of the Science March find alongside so many inappropriate protest signs. The themselves grasping at the straws of an unorganized solution is empowering them to frame their and dispersed base. Building a robust coalition in a participation in no uncertain terms and insulate matter of weeks may seem insurmountable to them from criticism. organizers getting their first taste of grassroots “WE ARE _____ activism. Hesitation among prominent science MARCHING FOR _____.” organizations only makes matters worse. Many scientists are outraged and under They don’t need to state what they are duress and will show up because they have to do against, or acknowledge any other sentiments something, but relying on individuals won’t be expressed during the nonpartisan March, they only enough. The next challenge is bringing our need to reaffirm their own mission statement; institutions and organizations to bear. “-to remember the role science plays in To do this we first have to recognize that our society and to support scientific even mention of the word activism is distasteful to innovation and discovery, and the people STEM professionals used to a position of and programs that make it possible,” respectability that has until now been above the fray. American Geophysical Union CEO, Chris 7 They have valid existential concerns about what McEntee . politicization would mean for their funding and “-to communicate the importance, value reputation. Unfortunately, these board members fail and beauty of science.” AAAS CEO, Rush to admit that their findings will continue to be Holt8. polarized with or without their consent - unless we Attracting a wide base of support also can exert public pressure to restore respect for means reaching beyond low-hanging fruit of narrow scientific process. science organizations. We have to embrace tech We have to reject the privilege of inaction companies, conservationists, hobbyists, and makers - and recognize that empiricism is worth defending. but none of this will go far enough to engage the Respect for evidence needs to be demanded and not unengaged. merely hoped for. This March for Science depends on Most of all we need gatekeepers to non- solidarity from America’s valuable and often unseen science communities who are nor participants in scientific institutions. science but it’s beneficiaries. This includes civic and Universities, organizations, and industry special interest organizations; especially churches who rely on public funding were skittish about public and charities. Would they march to end cancer? Or endorsements before they were directly in the for clean drinking water? Ask them and find out. crosshairs. They are understandably afraid of how

7 http://fromtheprow.agu.org/agu-announces-endorsement-march-science/

8 http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2017/02/will-they-or-won-t-they-what-science-groups-are-saying-about-joining- march-science Who is the real audience?

This may sound counterintuitive but the The leaders, and book your best-spoken representatives March for Science isn’t a march for scientists. You on early morning news. Every interaction has to may have missed that the Scientist March on answer the larger question Washington has become a March for Science, but the “WHY SHOULD OUR CITY distinction is critical and I implore you to review the CARE ABOUT SCIENCE?” national website’s mission and principle statements. We have to recognize that the target What kind of STEM industries support your audience won’t be there to see the event in person. city? What services do your neighbors rely on? Social movements conduct marches to focus the Explain to them how scientists both keep the lights nation’s attention to their cause. This means working on and protect them from diseases. with the media. This also means a persistent and Get ahead of coverage leading up to the professional presence on social media. Schedule event by reaching out to your local culture and multiple Facebook and Twitter updates per day, each events reporters. Do whatever you can to make their with embedded pictures/videos and links to march job easy. Write an article that they can mine for information. These can be anything; news articles, quotes and information, send out regular press profiles of speakers and leaders, and especially releases, put them in contact with supportive local interviews about why citizens choose to march.

How to put on a good show

Only when you’re confident that every looking confused by all the alcohol. Be sure to science lover in your city will hear about your event include attractions and speaker that appeal to a can you put the cart behind the horse and plan the broad range of ages and interests. Can you join rally. This is also a good time to make sure someone forces with Earth-Day activities already planned in filed those city permits and coordinated your route. your town? Host an impromptu science festival in the March for Science organizers will have to morning leading up to the march? balance two seemingly disparate programming Keep in mind that you are not professionals goals; galvanizing the science community (in the when it comes to the performance arts. Hire a broadest possible terms), and appealing to the professional A/V production company to ensure that public for their support. One is motivating adults to the entire assembly and bystanders can hear you. Set take action, and the other is humanizing science and up a stage and projectors if you can, then hire a scientists for American families. professional MC to keep the crowd fired up and Keep in mind that for most non-scientists, ready to go. “science” implies kid-friendly. I can’t tell you how Lastly, make sure there’s an after-party many adult-only science events we’ve held at taverns planned somewhere nearby to connect the movers late on a Friday night only to have families appear and shakers of your city. Now what? You’ve made the plans and worked out a and degree holders the term also includes hobbyists program. But how do we ensure more than a from conservationists to tinkerers in garage momentary catharsis for the science community? workshops. How do we create lasting engagement after the You have gathered your people, and you March? may never again gather so many of them in one First, celebrate showing up. place. How can you leverage this opportunity to Remember that even among scientists the keep them engaged when the March is over? Figure baseline for public engagement is zero. Your out a way to stay connected and recruit a significant attendees should be rewarded with profuse gratitude number of volunteers to this end. for donating their time in support of science. After all, Can you keep up with a monthly newsletter? dopamine is free. How about planning regular meet-ups? Think even By showing up they have created a de-facto bigger - how about soliciting volunteers for a science community that did not previously exist. speaker’s bureau of local scientific communicators? Have follow-up programs ready to go, because your Perhaps most importantly, encourage every audience wants to know what else they can do. How science-lover present to sit down with someone else about a letter-writing party, or communication and talk about why science matters to them. workshops (be it storytelling, improv comedy, or even toastmasters)? Written by Kyle Sanders These make a lot of sense if we consider how [email protected] 50% of scientists describe themselves as “not well (719) 235-7666 equipped”, or worse, to discuss their research with a lay audience and 73% report having no training in Kyle Sanders is executive director of Science Riot public speaking9. At a minimum you can plan a pro- Inc., a Colorado-based 501(c)(3) that produces and science potluck to continue the local discussion. The consults on adult-oriented science programming. important thing is to book and announce these dates leading up to and during the March. Science Riot is assisting the Colorado Springs BY SHOWING UP THEY HAVE March for Science and credits include programs at CREATED A DE-FACTO SCIENCE the Denver Museum for Nature and Science, COMMUNITY THAT DID NOT Space Foundation Discovery Center, PREVIOUSLY EXIST. and Denver Comic Con. Emphasize that the definition of “scientist” is not restricted to those conducting research or engaged in academia. It includes anyone in STEM- related career fields from doctors and nurses to pilots and computer programmers. Beyond professionals

9 The Royal Society. 2006. Science communication: Survey of factors affecting science communication by scientists and engineers.