WK 9: Telling Stories, Sharing Knowledge, and Seeing the Nature of Things: Teaching Scientific Communication in Ecology Courses

Tuesday, August 3, 2021

3:30 PM – 5:00 PM Pacific

Session Organizer(s)

Robert Newman

University of North Dakota
Grand Forks, ND, USA

Moderator(s)

Bethann Merkle

Communication and Engagement Section past chairperson; Public Engagement at Annual Meetings subcommittee member, Ecological Society of America
Laramie,

Session Co-organizers: Bethann Merkle, Department of Zoology & Physiology; UWyo Biodiversity Institute, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, Skylar Bayer, Maine Sea Grant, Orono, ME, Kirsten Schwarz, Departments of Urban Planning & Environmental Health Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, Elizabeth M. Cook, Environmental Science, Barnard College, New York, NY

There is increasing recognition of the need to 1) incorporate science communication skills into core curriculum and 2) broaden audiences to include the general public, especially given that it is often non-scientists who make decisions on environmental policy. Indeed, effective science communication is central to science that benefits society. However, science communication training is seldom included in formal scientific training. When included, it may be limited to communication among peer audiences, i.e. lab reports, peer-reviewed publications, dissertations, and professional presentations.
Ecology courses provide an opportunity to introduce early career ecologists to best practices in science communication, but fitting scicomm into courses is a challenge. To help educators enhance this aspect of their teaching, workshop facilitators who teach science communication in EEB departments will guide participants through goal setting and module/assignment design. Using backwards design, participants will apply best practices for incorporating science communication in their courses. Examples will emphasize stand-alone course modules and/or class exercises that could be easily incorporated into existing courses. Participants will leave with a draft module focusing on science communication using inclusive science communication coupled with science storytelling, visual communication, and/or talking with the media. This workshop pairs with the OOS Equity-Focused, Evidence-Based Approaches to Teaching and Assessing SciComm in Higher Education. Workshop instructors are past and current officers of the ESA Communication & Engagement Section.