Where to Get Help

A wealth of resources is available to help you communicate. The most important include:

University Department or Communications

The university communications department - or office of public affairs or public relations - is a great place to start. All Canadian universities have communications specialists on staff, and many of these people have expertise in science communications. The department maintains on-going relationships with the media, and can help you prepare for an interview, place a newspaper article, or create media interest in your research. In some institutions, the department of communications arranges public speaking venues and assists in preparing slides and overheads.

Would you like to become a media spokesperson in your discipline? Many universities publish directories for the media, listing faculty members by area of expertise so that the press can easily contact a researcher for information. Alternatively, your institution may place faculty listings on the ProfNet. Many universities also distribute media newsletters, highlighting new grants and results of research projects.

At some universities, the communications department organizes work.shops on media relations for faculty members and graduate students.

Canadian Science Writers' Association (CSWA)

This is a professional organization of 200 science journalists, communications specialists in industry, and scientific researchers with an interest in communications. CSWA issues a quarterly newsletter that frequently contains items on the research activities of members. This is an effective way of introducing your work to many of Canada's leading science journalists. The Association's electronic usergroup, available on the Ottawa FreeNet, is another effective vehicle for promoting research and talking with science writers.

CSWA hosts an annual conference with workshops designed to hone communications skills. Several regional groups also have regular gatherings. The Association's full-time executive director is available to answer any questions you might have.

Association des communicateurs scientifiques du Québec

The Association des Communicateurs Scientifiques du Québec (ACSQ) is a smaller, less formal organization than CSWA. Membership consists of about 100 journalists, public relations specialists and museum experts, although it does invite researchers to join. The association issues a newsletter, and hosts an annual conference for members to which researchers are also invited to attend. Experienced Association members are an excellent source of advice on science communications.

Industry, Government and Centres of Excellence

Many researchers work in partnership with industry, government, and publicly funded agencies. Your freedom to communicate research activities may be limited, or even prohibited, in such a partnership. If not, you might explore communications opportunities with the other partners, who can use their in-house communications specialists as resources.

Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council

NSERC's communications staff can answer many of your questions and provide media and public affairs support. For advice, call NSERC at 613-995-6295. Help is also available from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (613-941-2672) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (613-992-0691).

Professional and Faculty Associations

Many of these organizations have public relations committees or staff, who can be a source of speaking opportunities and communications advice.