URBANA, IL, Dec 13 (IPS) – A new study shows that AI-generated summaries of scientific writings create greater public engagement with information by making it more accessible and easier to understand. . This is notable because most scientists are not trained in science communication tactics and their jargon affects the ability of many people to understand and trust scientific papers and research findings.
Science communication has always been an important part of the scientific process. Because the discoveries, solutions and discoveries that can help solve our world’s biggest challenges cannot be adopted or understood by the public without clear communication. When science is communicated well, it can also shape and inform public policy.
Scientists therefore have a responsibility to communicate their knowledge and findings in a way that the public and policy makers can understand, but too often this is not done.
Because of the importance of science communication, scientists need to be trained in science communication. So I started taking science communication courses in college.
I have been teaching this field for over four years and cover topics such as the art of opinion writing, crafting science stories, and the art of communicating science to a variety of audiences using careful use of metaphors and minimal jargon.
Additionally, the class covers topics such as communicating science using social media, communicating with politicians, and creating visual science stories. Students who have completed this class have gone on to use the skills they learned in the class in their careers, while others have become science communicators.
People who need to learn these skills include recent PhD graduates, postdocs, assistant professors, new professors, and full professors.
There are many resources, including textbooks, science communication workshops, and trusted organizations and institutions that scientists can rely on. Science communication beginners can also meet other science communication enthusiasts through social media, including Bluesky Social and Instagram.
In particular, there are institutions and organizations that scientists can rely on. For example, the American Association for the Advancement of Science has developed a communication toolkit to help beginners in science communication.
The OpED Project has a program to help people learn how to write OpEd, and offers science communication workshops several times a year. In addition, most universities also have web pages listing science communication resources.
For example, Duke University has a webpage that lists available resources, including science communication workshops, events, and classes.
Communicating science effectively through OpEds, blogs, and social media outlets is not only important for reaching the public and policymakers, but can also benefit scientists themselves.
First, through open publication and participation, scientists can build their reputations. Journalists and policymakers often reach out to experts who are easy to find, and being active on social media and opinion pages can make it easier for you to find them.
A consistent public voice backed by good work can help establish someone as an expert in their field. Moreover, scientists who engage regularly and consistently in science communication can track its impact and include it in their tenure-track promotional packages.
This happened to me. For example, consistently writing over 150 OpEds since 2015 has helped me advance my career.
Second, communicating science publicly helps individuals build professional networks, which can lead colleagues to request collaboration and co-write grant proposals.
This could lead to people recommending each other for awards, or inviting each other to speak on panels, workshops, or attend plenary sessions.
This has been my experience and I have received several invitations thanks to my public posts. For example, I was invited to give a plenary lecture at the annual British Ecological Society conference in 2019, and have been invited to speak at several universities.
In 2021, he received the Mani L. Bhaumik Award for Public Engagement in Science from the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Third, communicating science can help scientists develop their skills and become more adept at speaking and writing in publicly accessible language. And this could help scientists learn how to better capitalize on newsworthy moments. It can also foster trust building between different communities and the public.
Fourth, it allows scientists to provide a public service and provide reporters and policymakers with accurate information about their discoveries and recent scientific and technological developments.
Of course, joining the science communication ranks can be daunting for newbies. Not only may it be an unfamiliar and new technology to develop, but there may also be concerns about not being able to control what happens to one’s writing, how it is used after it is published, or the fact that science is constantly evolving and new information may be coming to terms with it. There are concerns that this may happen. Or you disagree with what you previously knew to be true. But the pros outweigh the cons.
Science communication is critical to conveying important scientific information. Scientists must advocate for science. When scientists become better science communicators, the public, society, and scientists all benefit.
Dr. Esther Ngumbi He is an assistant professor of entomology in the Department of African American Studies. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
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