By: Dr. Laura Kuhlmann, ORT Times Science Writer
Communicating science to a general audience (i.e., informing, educating or raising awareness of science-related topics) is now recognized as a responsibility of scientists. The ease of communicating information in the contemporary media ecosystem and wide-spread internet access can unfortunately also facilitate the spread of misinformation. There is therefore a need for scientists to clarify complex notions in layman terms when engaging the public and young scientists are often well equipped for this task.
If you are a UHN trainee wishing to translate your knowledge to the public, here are a few tips and strategies for improving your science communication.
Know your audience.
Translating scientific discoveries and theories to the lay audience is complicated by the fact that science subjects are complex and require a lot of prior knowledge. When creating any report for the lay audience, imagine a conversation in your head with a non-scientist friend. Some tips for delivering a clear yet entertaining message include:
- Use simple words (avoid jargon) and be specific
- Use metaphors and comparisons to clarify complex concepts
- Use active voice
Create a blog/website.
Generating reliable online resources is an efficient way to communicate science. Here are a few tips for starting a blog and creating an online presence:
- Pick a URL address that is memorable and informative
- Write stories about topics you know
- Prioritize the information needed to move your story forward and omit unnecessary details
- Write posts regularly
- Use keywords to ease online searches
- Increase online readability (e.g., use bulleted lists of major points, include simple graphs to illustrate your points)
- Promote your blog/website on social media platforms such as Reddit and Twitter
Practice. Rewrite. Edit.
Writing often requires ample revisions. Peter Elbow in “Writing with power” makes several recommendations:
- Write a first draft identifying points you consider important to the theme (verbiage and order are irrelevant at this point)
- Identify the main ideas and re-write
- Alternate sentence length (remember that sentences over 25 words are often difficult to read)
- Keep subject and verb clauses together
- Strengthen your message by avoiding weak words (quite, very), restricting adverbs (use stronger verbs instead) and reducing verbiage
- Practice every day
Experiment.
Unshackle your imagination and draw inspiration from your hobbies. Experiment with writing, photography, singing; write a poem, create animations or rap your science; or start a vlog. Where appropriate, use humour. Remember the wonder you associate with science and enable your audience to experience it through your work.
Importantly, science communication can help trainees hone skills transferable to their research (e.g., improved grant and manuscript writing) or can launch an alternative career (medical writing, among others). Additionally, by engaging the lay audience, UHN trainees can help guide public’s perception about science and promote an informed society which has the potential to strengthen democratic discourse.