Training Graduate Students in Multiple Genres of Public and Academic Science Writing: An Assessment Using an Adaptable, Interdisciplinary Rubric

There is an urgent need for scientists to improve their communication skills with the public, especially for those involved in applying science to solve conservation or human health problems. However, little research has assessed the effectiveness of science communication training for applied scientists. We responded to this gap by developing a new, interdisciplinary training model, “SciWrite,” based on three central tenets from scholarship in writing and rhetoric: 1) habitual writing, 2) multiple genres for multiple audiences, and 3) frequent review and created an interdisciplinary rubric based on these tenets to evaluate a variety of writing products across genres. We used this rubric to assess three different genres written by 12 SciWrite-trained graduate science students and 74 non-SciWrite-trained graduate science students at the same institution. We found that written work from SciWrite students scored higher than those from non-SciWrite students in all three genres, and most notably thesis/dissertation proposals were higher quality. The rubric results also suggest that the variation in writing quality was best explained by the ability of graduate students to grasp higher-order writing skills (e.g., thinking about audience needs and expectations, clearly describing research goals, and making an argument for the significance of their research). Future programs would benefit from adopting similar training activities and goals as well as assessment tools that take a rhetorically informed approach.

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What does the UK public want from academic science communication?

F1000Research ◽

10.12688/f1000research.8815.1 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 5 ◽

pp. 1261 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

James Redfern ◽

Sam Illingworth ◽

Joanna Verran

Keyword(s):

Digital Media ◽

Science Communication ◽

Point Of View ◽

Academic Science ◽

Open Door ◽

Intended Audience ◽

The Public ◽

Wide Range ◽

Hands On ◽

The Uk

The overall aim of public academic science communication is to engage a non-scientist with a particular field of science and/or research topic, often driven by the expertise of the academic. An e-survey was designed to provide insight into respondent’s current and future engagement with science communication activities. Respondents provided a wide range of ideas and concerns as to the ‘common practice’ of academic science communication, and whilst they support some of these popular approaches (such as open-door events and science festivals), there are alternatives that may enable wider engagement. Suggestions of internet-based approaches and digital media were strongly encouraged, and although respondents found merits in methods such as science festivals, limitations such as geography, time and topic of interest were a barrier to engagement for some. Academics and scientists need to think carefully about how they plan their science communication activities and carry out evaluations, including considering the point of view of the public, as although defaulting to hands-on open door events at their university may seem like the expected standard, it may not be the best way to reach the intended audience.

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Fifty Years after the Death of Flammarion, the Science Popularizer

Journal of Technical Writing and Communication ◽

10.2190/cm1p-yuef-u40p-tbjb ◽

1976 ◽

Vol 6 (2) ◽

pp. 89-96 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Yuri V. Novozhilov ◽

Jacques G. Richardson

Keyword(s):

Science Communication ◽

Modern Science ◽

Fiftieth Anniversary ◽

Science Writing ◽

The Public ◽

Popularization Of Science ◽

Correct Image ◽

Contemporary Approach

The fiftieth anniversary of the death of Camille Flammarion, the great French astronomer, is the occasion for the authors of this article to review the beginnings of modern science writing. Flammarion's Popular Astronomy may be considered the first step in the popularization of science. The relation of science communication to other disciplines is discussed as well as the contemporary approach. One of the tasks of the popularizer is to present a correct image of science to the public. The authors conclude with a statement of UNESCO's involvement in the popularization of science.

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Science writing and journalism

The Biochemist ◽

10.1042/bio03402036 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 34 (2) ◽

pp. 36-38 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Alexa Hime

Keyword(s):

Science Communication ◽

Science Writing ◽

The Public ◽

Postgraduate Study ◽

Scientific Fields

As a graduate of the molecular biosciences, there are many different careers and postgraduate study options available to you, in science-related and non-scientific fields. The field of science communication is one which currently has a lot of ‘buzz’ about it, and the importance of science writers and journalists in engaging with the public is being recognized more and more.

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A handy guide to science-communication theory and practice

Journal of Science Communication ◽

10.22323/2.14040701 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 14 (04) ◽

pp. R01

Author(s):

Achintya Rao

Keyword(s):

Graduate Students ◽

Science Communication ◽

Communication Theory ◽

Theory And Practice ◽

Academic Science ◽

Reference Book ◽

Comprehensive Overview ◽

The Subject

The ever-changing nature of academic science communication discourse can make it challenging for those not intimately associated with the field ― scientists and science-communication practitioners or new-comers to the field such as graduate students ― to keep up with the research. This collection of articles provides a comprehensive overview of the subject and serves as a thorough reference book for students and practitioners of science communication.

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Open Science

10.1071/9780643097643 ◽

2010 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Julian Cribb ◽

Tjempaka Sari

Keyword(s):

Science Communication ◽

Low Cost ◽

Effective Means ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Open Science ◽

Resource Scarcity ◽

Science Writing ◽

Communication Performance ◽

The Public ◽

Advanced Knowledge

Open Science is about how we address the profound challenges which now confront humanity: climate, the food crisis, environmental degradation, resource scarcity and disease; through science communication. These call for the sharing of scientific knowledge among billions of humans, on a scale never before attempted. Open Science offers practical ways to communicate science in a highly networked world where billions of people still have little or no access to advanced knowledge or technologies. The authors describe low-cost, effective means to transfer knowledge to target audiences in industry, government, the community and to the public at large. The book features sections on good science writing, practical advice on how to develop communication and media strategies, ways to measure communication performance, how to handle institutional 'crises', how to deal with politicians and much more.

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FUNDAMENTAL AND APPLIED SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH March 2019: сб.науч.тр./ OEAPS Inc.; редкол.: Флора Бертран (отв.ред.) [и др.]. - Берлин, Германия : OEAPS Inc., 2019. - 104 C.

10.31219/osf.io/92vbc ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Салтанат Дауытбековна Арыстанова ◽

Курманбек Тажмаханбетович Жантасов ◽

Жазира Тулжанова Жумадилова ◽

Орынбасар Акпанович Алшынбаев ◽

Гулаш Абдуллаева Бекбулатова ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Graduate Students ◽

Conference Proceedings ◽

Basic Science ◽

Applied Research ◽

Scientific Research ◽

University Libraries ◽

International Forum ◽

Electronic Library ◽

European Academy ◽

The Public

Organizers OEAPS Inc. (OPEN EUROPEAN ACADEMY OF PUBLIC SCIENCES) & ISA (International Scientific Association). The accepted materials are placed in the conference proceedings collection, the materials will be indexed by RISC / Elibrary, CrossRef, Google Scholar, LawArXiv, posted by Stanford University Libraries, Index Copernicus, OpenAir, assigned to ISBN.The conference is a major international forum for analyzing and discussing trends and approaches in research in the field of basic science and applied research. We provide a platform for discussions on innovative, theoretical and empirical research.The form of the conference: in absentia, without specifying the form in the collection of articles.Working languages: Russian, EnglishFollowing the conference, a collection of articles will be published within 10 days, which is posted on the publisher's website and is registered in the Elibrary Scientific Electronic Library . ru . The collection is assigned library indexes UDC, BBK and international standard book number ISBN.In Elibrary . ru articles posted in the public domain.Doctors and candidates of science, scientists, specialists of various profiles and directions, applicants for academic degrees, teachers, graduate students, undergraduates and students are invited to participate in the conference.

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Establishing a baseline of science communication skills in an undergraduate environmental science course

International Journal of STEM Education ◽

10.1186/s40594-021-00304-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Rashmi Shivni ◽

Christina Cline ◽

Morgan Newport ◽

Shupei Yuan ◽

Heather E. Bergan-Roller

Keyword(s):

Best Practices ◽

Science Communication ◽

Environmental Science ◽

Essential Elements ◽

Science Students ◽

Early Step ◽

Effective Science ◽

Media Types ◽

Undergraduate Science ◽

The Right

Abstract Background Seminal reports, based on recommendations by educators, scientists, and in collaboration with students, have called for undergraduate curricula to engage students in some of the same practices as scientists—one of which is communicating science with a general, non-scientific audience (SciComm). Unfortunately, very little research has focused on helping students develop these skills. An important early step in creating effective and efficient curricula is understanding what baseline skills students have prior to instruction. Here, we used the Essential Elements for Effective Science Communication (EEES) framework to survey the SciComm skills of students in an environmental science course in which they had little SciComm training. Results Our analyses revealed that, despite not being given the framework, students included several of the 13 elements, especially those which were explicitly asked for in the assignment instructions. Students commonly targeted broad audiences composed of interested adults, aimed to increase the knowledge and awareness of their audience, and planned and executed remote projects using print on social media. Additionally, students demonstrated flexibility in their skills by slightly differing their choices depending on the context of the assignment, such as creating more engaging content than they had planned for. Conclusions The students exhibited several key baseline skills, even though they had minimal training on the best practices of SciComm; however, more support is required to help students become better communicators, and more work in different contexts may be beneficial to acquire additional perspectives on SciComm skills among a variety of science students. The few elements that were not well highlighted in the students’ projects may not have been as intuitive to novice communicators. Thus, we provide recommendations for how educators can help their undergraduate science students develop valuable, prescribed SciComm skills. Some of these recommendations include helping students determine the right audience for their communication project, providing opportunities for students to try multiple media types, determining the type of language that is appropriate for the audience, and encouraging students to aim for a mix of communication objectives. With this guidance, educators can better prepare their students to become a more open and communicative generation of scientists and citizens.

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Scientists: Engage the Public!

mBio ◽

10.1128/mbio.01989-15 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 6 (6) ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Erika C. Shugart ◽

Vincent R. Racaniello

Keyword(s):

Social Sciences ◽

Science Communication ◽

Social Stigma ◽

Public Communication ◽

The Public ◽

Advanced Society ◽

The Social

ABSTRACT Scientists must communicate about science with public audiences to promote an understanding of complex issues that we face in our technologically advanced society. Some scientists may be concerned about a social stigma or “Sagan effect” associated with participating in public communication. Recent research in the social sciences indicates that public communication by scientists is not a niche activity but is widely done and can be beneficial to a scientist's career. There are a variety of approaches that scientists can take to become active in science communication.

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Prospects for architects in the Government Sector

International Journal of Students Research in Technology & Management ◽

10.18510/ijsrtm.2021.943 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (4) ◽

pp. 27-39

Author(s):

Disha Garg ◽

Kartik Sharma ◽

Parul Nayar ◽

Shubhi Goyal ◽

Shruti S Nagdeve

Keyword(s):

Graduate Students ◽

Private Sector ◽

Professional Life ◽

Thought Process ◽

The Public ◽

Government Organizations ◽

Private Practices ◽

Government Sector ◽

The Government

Purpose: With the conception of one’s professional life, it is essential to understand all the possibilities and opportunities that lie before them. In the case of architecture, there exists a bias towards the private sector where newly graduate students aspire to work in private practices and possibly even envision a practice of their own at a certain point in life. While there is nothing wrong with envisioning a future in the private sector, it is also essential to be aware about the public sector and understand the opportunities it provides to be able to make an informed decision. There is a preconceived notion about the monotonous nature of government jobs and a lack of awareness about students about the opportunities in this sector. Hence, it becomes crucial to understand the numerous opportunities this sector has to offer and thus, explore the potential of architects in government organizations. Methodology: The research for this paper has been done by referring to existing literature and interviews with concerned people. With an understanding of how and why is the government sector an essential area of research for budding architects and planners. The research was done through interviews and possible case studies was done based on review of existing literature. Main Findings: The government is one sector with tremendous possibilities in the realm of architecture but is often plagued with stereotypes and preconceptions which have emerged over the years. It is imagined to be “lazy”, “uninnovative” and “non-productive” but this sector has evolved over the recent years and is now shaping to be one of the more lucrative sectors for practice. The number of perks, benefits and a clear comparative advantage of a higher salary, added with the direct contribution towards serving the nation, the government sector clearly has an unrealised potential for architectural professionals. Implications: With younger architetcs having preconceived notions about role of architetcs in a government sector limited to unexciting set of designs without creativity, this article may help bring a fresh thought process to choose professional sector wisely.

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Major Risks, Uncertain Outcomes: Making Ensemble Forecasts Work for Multiple Audiences

Weather and Forecasting ◽

10.1175/waf-d-18-0018.1 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 33 (5) ◽

pp. 1359-1373 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Rachel Hogan Carr ◽

Burrell Montz ◽

Kathryn Semmens ◽

Keri Maxfield ◽

Samantha Connolly ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Water Resource ◽

Ensemble Forecasts ◽

Proper Understanding ◽

The Public ◽

Emergency Personnel ◽

Emergency Managers ◽

Resource Managers ◽

Multiple Audiences ◽

Uncertain Outcomes ◽

Hydrologic Forecast

Abstract When extreme river levels are possible in a community, effective communication of weather and hydrologic forecasts is critical to protecting life and property. Residents, emergency personnel, and water resource managers need to make timely decisions about how and when to prepare. Uncertainty in forecasting is a critical component of this decision-making, but often poses a confounding factor for public and professional understanding of forecast products. A new suite of products from the National Weather Service’s Hydrologic Ensemble Forecast System (HEFS) provides short- and long-range forecasts, ranging from 6 h to 1 yr, and shows uncertainty in hydrologic forecasts. To understand how various audiences use and interpret ensemble forecasts showing a range of hydrologic forecast possibilities, a research project was conducted using scenario-based focus groups and surveys with community residents, emergency managers, and water resource managers in West Virginia and Maryland. The research assessed the utility of the HEFS products, identified barriers to proper understanding of the products, and suggested modifications to product design that could improve the understandability and accessibility for a range of users. There was a difference between the residential users’ reactions to the HEFS compared to the emergency managers and water resource managers, with the public reacting less favorably to all versions. The emergency managers preferred the revised HEFS products but had suggestions for additional changes, which were incorporated. Features such as interactive text boxes and forecaster’s notes further enhanced the utility and understandability of the products.

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