a Summer at Voice of America: Communicating Science to the World

Efforts to communicate the importance of science to the general public have typically been domestic initiatives: scientific organizations reaching out to American audiences through a variety of media to deepen their appreciation for the many ways science affects our lives. As federal and state budgets shrink, and programs affecting critical issues like the environment and health come under pressure, it becomes even more important that the public understand what is at stake. At the same time, in our increasingly interconnected world, it is becoming more important for science communicators to reach out to people in other countries, especially in parts of the world where science plays a life-or-death role in preventing famine or curing disease. Knowledge of science and technology is vital to understanding and tackling complex development challenges, making informed public policy decisions, and responding to a fast-changing world beyond U.S. borders. That is why the mission of the science desk at the Voice of America (VOA) in Washington DC is so crucial. This team of science journalists reports every day on new developments in science to a global audience, via radio, television and the web. VOA broadcasts both U.S. and international science news to an estimated 123 million listeners, viewers and web visitors in 44 languages. This presentation will discuss the motivation, challenges, experiences and benefits of writing for an international audience on the VOA Science Desk as an American Association for the Advancement in Science Mass Media Fellow, funded by the American Geophysical Union.