Speaking of Physics: The Art of Science Communication

The Art of Science Communication

S p e a k i n g o f P h y s i c s . . .

Stephanie Chasteenhttp://sciencegeekgirl.com

Images: Tom Tomorrow, Amy Snyder

Audio: David Kestenbaum & Marvin Marshak: Neutrinos

My points for today

Communication is necessary in today’s careers

We can’t treat our audience like they’re stupid (but we can’t treat them like they’re

physicists either)

The data do not speak for themselves.

But first...

who the heck am I anyway?

Finding the warm spot

Postdoc in physics education research

PhD in Physics

freelance writingNPR intern

My non-linear path

BA in Social Psychology

independent business

Peace Corps

Postdoc at science museumteacher education

Postdoc in physics education research

PhD in Physics

freelance writingNPR intern

My non-linear path

BA in Social Psychology

PC picturePeace Corps

Postdoc at science museumteacher education

independent business

science& pedigree

communication& writing

teacher prep

education

ed. research

Peace Corps

The career messages...

• There are great jobs in education, outreach, and writing and communication is univerally important.

• Specialization can be great; but diversification can be great too. We need synthesizers in this multidisciplinary world.

• You aren’t the prisoner of initial steps towards a career choice. You don’t always need to know where you’re going; find the warm spot

my blog has a recent post about my non-linear career pathhttp://sciencegeekgirl.com

We need to communicate with many audiences

• Our students

• Other academics (across disciplines)

• The public

• The media

Image from: shirray-langley.abbozzogallery.com/

the media is powerful

Image by Tomasz Sienicki

Changing view of science communication

public

let’s educate that ignorant public

scientific literacy (1960-1980’s)

media & scientists

the deficit model

“The deficit model assumes that the public are empty vessels waiting to be filled with useful information upon which they will rationally act.”

Nerlich, Koteyko, and Brown, “Theory and language of climate change communication,” Wiley Interdisciplinary reviews, 1, 2010.

science

The current model

public

science & society (present)

we have the attitude problem

media & scientists

image victorvoigt

How do you get your message across?

What are some techniques that have worked for you when...

★Talking to the public?

★Teaching your students?

Communication tips

3 key

points

build from

familiar

no jargon

keep it simple

know your audience

metaphors, analogy,

examples

make it relevant

tell a story

Don’t be so cerebral

find the story

Audio: Christopher Joyce and William Eberhard, A Spider’s WebImage: Luc Viatour, www.lucnix.be

Audio: David Kestenbaum & Tony Leggett: Superconductivity

find the story

Audio: Christopher Joyce and William Eberhard, A Spider’s WebImage: Luc Viatour, www.lucnix.be

Audio: David Kestenbaum & Tony Leggett: Superconductivity

How do you tell your story?

background

supporting details (data)

results & conclusions

scientist model

“the facts speak for themselves”

the deficit model does not work!

journalist model

bottom line

key details (data)

back-ground

What’s your elevator speech?

No more than 3 main points.

What’s your bottom line?

Consider: What is the main message, or “elevator speech” from:

• Your work, or

• A class period you recently attended

* it’s more complicated than that

“The reason you can't walk through a wall is that your atoms and the atoms in the wall interact with each other. They

speak the same language”*

There’s more to life than accuracy

accuracy understandability & interest

perception

expert knowledgewhat makes experts smart?

Expert knowledge is organized around big ideas.

Most people don’t have that framework.

So start with the familiar, and build a map.

ground the explanation in the familiar

start here...walls & people...

and of course, avoid jargon

the tough stuff.neutrinos

and build up to...atoms & electric charge

why should people care?

Image: http://www.scottberkun.com/essays/essay29.htm

Audio: David Kestenbaum & John Morgan: Poincare Conjecture

image from http://www.seniorsworldchronicle.com/2009/08/usa-professors-john-baldwin-68-and.html

there is a time for telling

but not too soon!

So, it is important to communicate well.But we don’t just

need to repeat our message louder

1. We need to decide what our messages are.

2. We need to make our messages accessible.

3. We need to motivate... THEN educate

4. This is important - and possible - for all levels of physics (and in our classes!)

http://communicatingscience.aaas.org/

http://www.dontbesuchascientist.com/ http://www.ucsusa.org/publications/scientist-media-guide.html

More resources

How does this work? Maybe some physicist can tell

us, using simple language and familiar metaphors?

Yeah, by telling us a concise interesting and entertaining story full of

substance!

Thank you!Notes and presentation will be posted at http://blog.sciencegeekgirl.com

Podcast @ http://perusersguide.org/podcasts