Welcome to the Science Talk Blog’s Meet the Science Talk ‘21 Speaker series! Each week we will highlight some of our exciting speakers. Registration is now open for Science Talk ’24!
Rob O’Malley is a Project Director, Dialogue on Science, Ethics, and Religion (DoSER) at AAAS. Before joining AAAS, Rob taught biological anthropology & conducted research on primate behavior & ecology in Costa Rica and Tanzania. He regularly participates in #scicomm and #sciengage activities in DC & beyond.
He will be leading the workshop “Science Engagement with People of Faith” (limited seating) on Thursday, March 25. The full agenda is available on the Science Talk website.
Get to know Rob O’Malley
What’s the most rewarding piece you’ve produced or project you’ve worked on?
Our program at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) has produced a wide range of freely available resources to support constructive science engagement with faith communities. I strongly encourage anyone interested in learning more about our work to check out www.sciencereligiondialogue.org. We add more resources regularly!
What advice would give a new science communicator?
Dan Kahan noted years ago that science communication research suggests that “People acquire their scientific knowledge by consulting others who share their values and whom they therefore trust and understand.” To be an effective science communicator, I believe it’s important to listen as much as you talk. It’s important to practice cultural humility- don’t assume you know what people believe or why, and give them an opportunity to tell you. Approach disagreements with curiosity rather than judgement. Identify shared values and concerns and build on that.
Who is your favorite science communicator?
Dr. Annette Lee, founder of www.nativeskywatchers.com. Her work is a gold standard for what culturally relevant, community focused and impactful science engagement can look like.
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