Science Communication: The Pathway to Impact

THE PATHWAY TO IMPACTSCIENCE COMMUNICATION / PROFESSOR @ANDYMIAH

#SpringHUBS16

EVERY ACT OF COMMUNICATION IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO TELL A STORY

BUT WHICH STORY DO YOU TELL?

IS IT THE MOST COMPELLING ONE?

OR THE MOST EMOTIONAL ONE?

OR SIMPLY THE MOST FACTUALLY ACCURATE VERSION?

CONTEXT

LACK OF TRUST IN SCIENCE MEDIA, BUT HIGH INTEREST IN SCIENCE

PERHAPS BECAUSE JOURNALISM/COMMUNICATION HAS CHANGED

BRITISH GOVERNMENT, SELECT COMMITTEE INQUIRY INTO SCIENCE COMMUNICATION (2016)

WHAT IS SCIENCE COMMUNICATION?

COLLABORATION, CO-PRODUCTION DIALOGUE, DISCOVERY, ENGAGEMENT, EVALUATION, EDUCATION, EMPOWERMENT, INVOLVEMENT

WHAT DOES SCIENCE COMMUNICATION ENTAIL?

WHERE DOES SCIENCE COMMUNICATION TAKE PLACE?

MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY, 2015

WHERE DOES SCIENCE COMMUNICATION TAKE PLACE?

THEATRES, SCHOOLS, GALLERIES, FESTIVALS, TELEVISION, RADIO, NEWSPAPERS, ONLINE, VIRTUAL REALITY, UNIVERSITIES

SCIENCE COMMUNICATION IS STILL NARROWLY CONCEPTUALISED WITHIN UNIVERSITIES

NOT EVERYBODY NEEDS TO BE BRIAN COX

TIMOTHY REVELL, FAMELAB

MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY, 2015

ROLES IN SCIENCE COMMUNICATION

WRITER, PRESENTER, PRODUCER, CURATOR, CONSULTANT, EDITOR, COMMISSIONER, DEVELOPER, RESEARCHER,

3 CASE STUDIES

CO-COMMISSIONKINETIC FLUX, MANCHESTER SCIENCE FESTIVAL (2015)

CO-PRODUCTIONBACK TO THE FUTURE DAY

CO-CREATIONTHE BIOSELFIES PROJECT

10 COMMANDMENTSSCIENCE COMMUNICATION

1. MAKE IT MATTER

DEMARCATE TIME ALLOCATED WITHIN WORKLOAD BALANCE MODELS

2. LEAD BY EXAMPLE

MAKE SCIENCE COMMUNICATION A MATTER OF SUBJECT LEADERSHIP

3. INVEST INTO AN INFRASTRUCTURE

CONNECT PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, IMPACT, AND COMMUNICATION

4. DEVELOP PARTNERSHIPS

WITH MEDIA, CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS, AND ACROSS SCHOOLS

4. OWN THE PLATFORM

TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR CHANNELS OF COMMUNICATION AND USE THEM FOR DEVELOPING SHOWREELS AND WORK THAT WON’T BE SHOWN ELSEWHERE

5. SUPPORT YOUR #SCICOMM COMMUNITY

STEM NETWORKS, FREELANCE SCIENCE COMMUNICATORS, FOR STARTERS

6. MAKE SCIENCE COMMUNICATION CORE TO TRAINING

AT PHD LEVEL ESPECIALLY, BUT THROUGHOUT THE STUDENT POPULATION

7. EVALUATE YOUR IMPACT

AND WORK WITH EXPERIENCED PARTNERS

8. HELP STAFF FIND THEIR MEDIUM

NOT EVERYONE NEEDS TO DO EVERYTHING, IN FACT, THIS IS FAR FROM IDEAL.

9. OPEN UP YOUR UNIVERSITY

OPEN UP UNIVERSITIES TO THE PUBLIC AND REAP THE REWARDS

10. INVEST INTO CITIZEN SCIENCE

PEOPLE WANT TO TAKE PART, NOT JUST LEARN ABOUT.

THANK YOUFOLLOW ME @ANDYMIAH @SALFORDFSCIENCE #SCICOMM