Communicating Science for the Baltimore Ecosystem Study

The theme of the BES Quarterly Research Meeting on Tuesday 5 April is Communicating Science. Featured speakers include Tim Wheeler of the Baltimore Sun, Julie Palakovich Carr from American Institute of Biological Sciences, and science writer Rebecca Wolf. Contributors also include BES members Mary Cadenasso, Brian McGrath, and Steward Pickett.

Topics include Communicating Effectively with Reporters, Communicating Effectively with Policymakers, Making Effective Use of Photography in Scientific Research, Video Techniques in Communicating Scientific Research, Scientific Writing for the Public, Effective Slide Design, and Clear Technical Writing. The morning consists of morning talks discussing best practice and successful strategies for each of the communication types. The afternoon will focus on working groups to provide hands on experience in some of the methods. The detailed agenda, information about location, and alerts of things to bring if you have them are given below.

BES Quarterly Research Meeting

Communicating Science

Organizers: Chris Swan (UMBC) and Steward Pickett (Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies)

Tuesday April 5, 2011, 9:00 am-5:00 pm

University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC)

Room 310, University Center, 1000 Hilltop Circle, Baltimore, MD 21250

Agenda

9:00 am Coffee—Gather & Schmooze

9:20 am Chris Swan

Associate Professor, University of Maryland, Baltimore County

Welcome

9:30 am Tim Wheeler

Environmental Reporter, The Baltimore Sun

Communicating Effectively with Reporters

10:00 am Julie Palakovich Carr

Senior Public Policy Associate, American Institute of Biological Sciences

Communicating Effectively with Policymakers

10:30 am Molly Mehling

Research Associate, Miami University

Making Effective Use of Photography in Scientific Research

11:00 am Brian McGrath

Associate Professor, Parsons The New School of Design

Video Techniques in Communicating Scientific Research

11:30 am Rebecca Wolf

Science Writer and Editor, More Than Words, Odenton MD

Scientific Writing for the Public

12:00 pm Mary Cadenasso

Associate Professor. University of California, Davis

Effective Slide Design

12:30-1:30 Lunch

1:30-2:15 Steward Pickett

Cary Institute, Millbrook NY

Clear Technical Writing

2:15-4:30 Working groups on photography, video, writing for the public, slide

presentations, interview role play

4:30-5:00 Sharing group work and insights

5:00 Adjourn

Please bring, depending on your interest in the working group breakout sessions:

1. A digital camera.
2. A video recorder.
3. An abstract or short research summary.
4. A scientific presentation.
5. Your laptop computer.

We will supply a couple of cameras and video recorders for those who are interested in those technologies but who do not own the equipment.

You may park at the TRC without charge and walk to the Campus Center. You must obtain a permit from Sabrina Strohmier in room TRC 102. Metered parking spaces are also available in the UMBC parking facility near the Campus Center.