Scientists and the Changing Media Landscape, Part 2
In order to bridge dissimilar cultures and have effective dialogue, you have to know who you’re talking to. At COMPASS, we often talk about the similarities between scientists and journalists – for...
View ArticleA Policymaker Walks Into The Forest…
A recurring challenge for scientists talking to policymakers is finding the match between the details that the scientist focuses on and understands, and the details that the policymaker needs to make...
View ArticleShaking the Money Tree: How to Fund Your Outreach
A week-long communications training aimed at scientists who want to make their science matter, at the beautiful Kristineberg Marine Station in Sweden. This was the second cohort of Vega Fellows in...
View ArticleNavigating Personal-Professional Boundaries
A key aspect of being successful in making your science matter beyond the ivory tower is building relationships and knowing how to strategically navigate networks of people. Ultimately, these...
View ArticleA Navigator to get you Across the Policy Chasm
Why is it that some scientists seem to have an easy time getting the ear of policymakers? When it comes to engaging decision-makers, we’ve told you to find the story in your science, to prepare...
View ArticleBuilding Infrastructures to Support Scientist Engagement
Last week, the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) Roundtable on the “Public Interfaces of the Life Sciences” (which I have the huge honor of serving on), convened a workshop to explore “The Sustainable...
View ArticlePlastic Pollution: Scientists Engaging to Make a Difference
Persistent plastics pose problems for the planet. (Say that five times fast!) While many groups and organizations have been working to document and combat the problem, it wasn’t until recently that...
View ArticleDon’t forget the big stuff: The many paths to relevance
One of the more infuriating comments I hear all too often about academic scientists is that they’re irrelevant. Floating about in lofty clouds of superfluous knowledge, they develop layer upon layer of...
View ArticleThe Top Ten Qualities of Scientist (Communicator) Leaders
Over the past few weeks, since we published “Navigating the Rules of Scientific Engagement” in PLOS, the voices of scientist communicators have rung out in blog posts – some personal perspectives and...
View ArticleThe Inspiration – and Frustration – of Change
Last week, I boarded a plane at Washington, DC’s Reagan National Airport headed home to Portland, OR. I sank into my seat, rested my head against the window, and closed my eyes. But as soon as we...
View Article
