Speaking Science - Media Panel

Graphic recording by Amy Sparks of  A Visual Spark (1/17/2019)

Moderator Elisia Cohen (Hubbard School Director) asked Timothy Blotz (Fox 9 news anchor) and Michelle Cortez (Bloomberg News) to explain the keys to successful communication between scientists and journalists.

Preparation prior to the interview is key. This allows the scientist to make sure they are communicating accurate information. In some situations, it is acceptable to politely refuse to answer questions if the news media misrepresents their stated intentions and questions are about topics that are not fully researched.

Tips from the notes above: Test out your ideas to regular folks prior to talking with the reporter, and be prepared to share what is important to you. Know the controversy well and address it directly. Let the audience know why they should care. Promptly contact the news director for factually incorrect information so a correction can be made to the web post.

Practice with a podcast or talking with others to get comfortable in front of the camera. A good news reporter will do what they can to put their interview subject at ease. If you are super shy, you can refer the reporter to another scientist who is more comfortable in front of a camera.

Timothy Blotz interviews Amazing Race winner Dr. Natalie Strand - 4 min. 

Speaking Science - Communicating Science in a post truth era by Amanda Stanley

Graphic recording by Amy Sparks of  A Visual Spark (1/17/2019)

Amanda Stanley from Compass offered up suggestion to communicate effectively in a "post-truth" world.  Passing false information through the media has been going on since at least the 17th Century. False news often spreads much faster than real news so it is difficult for the truth to catch up.

Changing people's minds with facts does not work. People want to bury the opposition with facts, destroy them, and sometimes end up being a jerk. Asking people to change their beliefs often requires them to change who they are. This usually does not happen.

Extending curiosity to find out what people care about and where there is a common interest can be a productive starting point for discussion. Connect to people with shared values, build trust, and share the awe of scientific discovery.

During her talk audience members watched a brief video on the Speaking Science improv for scientists mini-workshops held throughout the year.  I was fortunate to attend this class and found it to be very helpful and a great learning experience. Working on improvisation for scientists improves interpersonal and communication skills. Alan Alda advocated this in his book, If I Understood You, Would I Have This Look on My Face?

Christine O'Connel, The Alan Alda Center - Improv. in Science - 13 min. 

Alan Alda - Relating Through Improvisation - 5 min. 

Improvisation for the Communication of Science - Alan Alda - 14 min. 

Speaking Science - Talking to the public and legislators

Graphic recording by Amy Sparks of  A Visual Spark (1/17/2019)

After an introduction by U of Minnesota President, Eric Kaler, a faculty panel of Michael McAlpine Assoc. Prof. Mech. Eng.) , Jane Kirtley (Prof of Medical Ethics), and Kristina Krohn, MD (Assoc. Prof Med.) responded to questions posed by moderator Chris Cramer (V.P Research).

Panelists offered several recommendations to assist with clear communication of scientific discoveries.

• Adjust the message to the audience.
• Share the excitement of your research.
• Establish credentials with rapport, humility, truth, and caring.
• Repeat the same message in slightly different words.
• Know the facts.
• Know that reporters often focus on the negative.

When dealing with legislators, use anecdotes over data, establish relationships with the legislative staff, offer a message they can share, and admit when you don't know an answer to a question. 

Current issues facing journalists - Jane Kirtley - 8 min. 

Tissues and electronics in a 3D printed "bionic ear" - Michael McAlpine - 7 min. 

Speaking Science - Curiosity as a Catalyst by Emily Graslie

Graphic recording by Amy Sparks of  A Visual Spark (1/17/2019)

On January 17, 2018 Emily Graslie delivered the keynote address at the Speaking Science Conference at the University of Minnesota. Emily is the chief curiosity correspondent at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago, Illinois. She originally started as a landscape painter who fell in love with the objects in the zoological Museum at the University of Montana.

On a three day trip to the Field Museum of Chicago to film episodes for her Brain Scoop YouTube channel, the Field Museum staff offered her a job to work there.

Emily's advice to scientists is to identify your audience, use the language your audience uses, and modify the tone based on the audience. Brain Scoop made two separate videos on speciation. They produced the first video for a senior high school and freshman college audience. The second video used candy to represent species with middle school students as the target audience.

Candy Taxonomy - Emily Graslie presentation

Emily let her curiosity guide her career. She stepped out of her narrow role as an artist and moved into unexplored territory that gave her greater meaning.

Sample Science Scoop Videos below.

Meet Emily Graslie - Chief curiosity correspondent - Field Museum - 6 min.

Rodents of Unusual Size - 7 min. 

What is the Function? - an engineer attempts to guess the function of animal parts - 8 minutes

The Value of Curiosity - Emily Graslie - TED Talk - 13 minutes