Practical Activities You Can Try

Introduction

There are many ways to communicate the value of science and engineering to the general public. Here are a few of them:

Subscribe to an Electronic Newsgroup

Newsgroups are a tremendous channel for sharing your knowledge and enthusiasm with non-scientists. Take SchoolNet for example.

http://www.schoolnet.ca

There are many innovative and highly successful science promotion programs under way across Canada. The individuals and groups involved can be a great source of ideas on what really works with different audiences. Access the national science promotion discussion group through SchoolNet.

Browse for a while - follow the discussions without responding - to see the kinds of questions asked and answers given. Then, when you post a response, you can do so at a level subscribers will understand.

Write a Letter to the Editor

Newspaper and magazine articles often spark public debate about science and engineering issues. If an article is relevant to your research, consider responding. A simple letter to the editor can put your ideas in front of thousands of people. As an expert in your field, your letter will have considerable credibility and could have significant influence.

If interested, read the letters to the editor in a selected publication and note their tone and length. Remember that clarity and brevity count. Very few letters are longer than 300 words when printed. All letters refer to the paper's coverage of current events - or lack thereof - so relate the topic of your letter to a recent event or current issue.

Speak to a School or Youth Group

University members frequently receive requests for speakers from schools and youth groups. That's not surprising - young people are eager to explore the wonder of their world and learn about what scientists do and what science means for their future. (And they are always curious about how much money scientists and engineers earn!)

Generally speaking, informal presentations that develop simple concepts through hands on experiences work best. This approach is especially recommended for groups that have limited contact with researchers and whose members may be apprehensive about their understanding of science.

Consider speaking to a school class or a youth group such as Girl Guides or Scouts. Tailoring your remarks for young people is excellent preparation for communicating to a wider public audience. And you may influence a young person to pursue a career in science or engineering!

Involve Your Students

Undergraduate and graduate students make particularly effective presenters, and attractive role models for teachers and students at the elementary and secondary levels. Take the time to encourage this involvement and recognize the resulting achievements. It's a highly effective way to lever your science promotion activities. Not only does it introduce your students to the rewards of communicating science, it may even open up career possibilities for them.

Speak to an Industry or Special Interest Group

As a researcher, you may be involved in a project of direct application to industry. If so, there is at least one, and probably several, industry and professional associations, as well as environmental and other special interest groups, that would be eager to hear about your research and what it means to them. Such an exercise is useful in demonstrating the value of academic research and establishing your credibility as an advisor or potential partner.

Join a Speakers' Bureau

University communications departments often manage speakers' bureaus which promote faculty members as speakers to schools, service clubs, women's groups, and industry associations. Joining a speaker's bureau is an excellent way of getting started. Even if the communications department at your institution does not have a formal bureau, it probably does receive requests for speakers. As well, your department or faculty association probably receives regular requests for speakers. Let the Dean know that you are interested in public speaking.

Notify University Publications of Your Work

Most universities publish newsletters or "tip sheets" to promote the research work of faculty and graduate students to the media. If interested in participating, you should keep the communications department or research office informed of grants and research projects in which you are involved. This is a simple and easy route to building links with science writers and the popular press.

Participate in a Media Guide

Many universities publish a media guide listing participating faculty by area of expertise. A reporter working on a story about water pollution, for example, would use the guide to identify an expert who can be interviewed and quoted for the story. This is a simple way to bring your name in front of the media.

Get Listed on ProfNet

Public information officers at more than 425 colleges, universities and other institutions - including a dozen Canadian universities - belong to an electronic cooperative called ProfNet ("Professors Network"). This service gives journalists and authors convenient access to expert sources. Reporters can query the 350,000 experts listed on ProfNet by telephone, fax or e-mail, at no charge. To find out if your institution is listed, go to the ProfNet homepage.

Write an Op-Ed Article

An "op-ed" article is a feature story offering insight on current events. (Such items often appear opposite the editorial page, hence the term op-ed.) Query the editor about interest and editorial requirements (length, style) before proceeding. Keep in mind that all the rules about good writing and clear communications apply to writing op-ed pieces.

Organize a Public Lecture

Your research may be of direct interest to the larger community. If so, why not host a public lecture on campus and promote it through the general media? Remember that the audience will want to understand the social significance of your work, not the technical details.

Invite the Media to a Conference

If you are organizing a scientific conference, consider inviting the press. Identify presentations which may be of interest to the media and structure your invitation around these. Or issue a press release on the day of the conference, highlighting presentations and items of general interest.

Serve as a Technical Advisor to the Media

You don't have to appear on camera to help the media portray science accurately. You may be interested in working behind the scenes to help television writers and producers understand your discipline better. A communications specialist at your university can advise you how to make your interest known to the media.

Participate on a Radio Program

This is easier than you may think. Radio producers are always hunting for interesting guests - including people who can talk about science. In addition to national programs such as Morningside, and Quirks and Quarks, there are hundreds of local feature programs across Canada. If you have a good story to tell and identify an appropriate program, simply phone the show's producer and explain the story. Alternatively, your communications department may be able to arrange a radio interview.

Appear on Cable Television

Cable television broadcasts interview programs throughout the day, making it an excellent venue for reaching the local community. It also represents a great opportunity to hone skills for commercial television.

Host a Research Open House

Open houses featuring research projects often attract several thousand visitors as well as media coverage. These events represent a wonderful opportunity to promote the university and demonstrate the value of scientific and engineering research.

Create a Communications Cooperative

Larger research consortia might consider pooling resources to hire a communications specialist on a part-time basis to promote research activities to the public. The Lithoprobe research consortium, profiled below, found this approach highly effective.

Run Science Workshops

Many elementary and secondary school teachers would like to know what's current in science, technology and engineering. This helps them upgrade their own skills, and it allows them to make their own teaching more relevant. You might consider contacting a local high school or Board of Education (try talking to the Science Consultant) to offer to run a workshop for teachers.

Volunteer in a Regional Science Network

Very effective "science networks" are operating in many parts of the country. These are associations made up largely of volunteers interested in promoting science, technology and engineering. The networks sponsor many exciting and innovative projects in which experts like you can play an important part.

Judge a School Science Fair

A tremendous network of local, regional and national science fairs operates right across Canada. Each year thousands of schools mount science fairs. Qualified judges are always in demand. You could offer to help judge student projects at a science fair in your neighbourhood. Call your local school or Board of Education to see when science fairs are being held in your area.

Hire a Student (or Teacher)

Do you have research funds to hire a laboratory assistant? Why not consider hiring a high school student or even a teacher to work with you during their summer vacation? You'll be pleased by the level of dedication they exhibit.