Three Steps to a Better Scientific Community-Through Science Communication Training

Communication is an essential part of research: We need it for getting funding, sharing results, collaborating, and any interdisciplinary science. In short, effective science includes science communication. We also can't make our science matter without communication. We need to not only communicate, but communicate effectively, to inform policy, engage communities, inspire and attract the next generation, and provide general access to the science that is mostly funded by taxpayer's dollars. Providing science communication training for our geoscientists is therefore an investment in individual scientists, the public at large, and, arguably, our scientific community as a whole. Communications training can improve networking, collaborating, teaching, outreach (including social media and mass media), and managing stakeholder relationships--and, by the very nature of learning and practicing good communication, scientists also build relationships, confidence, and a sense of belonging.

Over the past four years, UNAVCO, IRIS, the EarthScope National Office, and others have collaborated to offer communication trainings at mid-sized and large meetings as well as at individual geoscience schools or departments. The trainings have ranged from short, topic-specific trainings on networking, storytelling, or social media to half-day or full-day short courses featuring a range of topics. In this presentation, we present our recipe, based on observations, multidisciplinary literature, and participant surveys, for building community through science communication trainings. Spoiler alert: it includes interactivity, learning communication basics, and creating safe spaces in which to get outside our comfort zones.