Science communications is a broad banner that includes many specializations, AND many people at various points in their careers, all with unique perspectives. So, how does one small conference accommodate everyone?
The answer is by building a community. Your community – with your input.
What is Science Talk?
Science Talk is the annual conference for the professional science communicator community organized by the Association of Science Communicators (ASC). This event is purposefully designed to be responsive to the needs and interests of this community and our conference attendees.
How do we do this? We listen to you. Science Talk is organized around community input. Therefore, we need this community’s help to create an inclusive event. One where everyone feels involved and served in some way, and the attendees, you, return home feeling inspired and satisfied.
This is not a conference organized by ASC for you. Instead, Science Talk is a conference facilitated by ASC in development with you.
How is Science Talk Organized?
Our model is a conference-unconference hybrid. Similar to a traditional conference, our volunteer-based Programming Committee develops the overall program schedule and related details and invites Keynote speakers to present. However, like an unconference, the specific programming (the who and the what) is proposed by people who want to participate in the conference, and then those session ideas are voted on by the community. After that, the top voted sessions are curated by the Programming Committee to ensure the greatest diversity of ideas & representation within the program.
This process puts you, the attendee, and community interests at the center of the conference – you decide what sessions best serve your needs, and together we create a dynamic & responsive program for the community at large.
Here’s how it works:
- The Programming Committee determines an annual theme and the general scheduling needs (number of workshops, short and long presentations, panels, interactive sessions, posters, etc.) for the event program.
- ASC requests programming proposals for the Science Talk conference from the scicomm community. Anyone has the ability to propose a session for consideration for the conference program during a specified timeframe.
- The Programming Committee determines the feasibility and appropriateness of the various proposals, and communicates with proposers if any questions or changes are deemed necessary.
- For one week, the community votes on proposals.
- The Programming Committee determines the winners of the public vote, and curates the final schedule.
- The draft schedule is announced!
Who is involved:
- The ASC community – The community knows the craft, and understands the challenges facing professional science communicators today. The people and ideas that come from the community shape who we and the conference become in an ongoing manner.
- The Programming Committee -Volunteer committee members have experience to provide valuable feedback to proposers and ensure balance in the programming.
Why Does this Matter?
We know that by co-creating the program with the community, new ideas (the best ideas) and people will surface, and keep the conference fresh and exciting to as many as possible. Above all, we want this community to develop and grow in a vibrant and inclusive way that benefits the entire science communications field.
So, on that note, how are you going to participate in creating this year’s Science Talk event? We will open our annual call for ideas to the community in Fall 2024 and can’t wait for your input!
In the meantime, if you want to volunteer for the Programming or Logistics Committee or the event itself, email info@sciencecomm.org. Science Talk 2025 will especially need help from those of you around Raleigh-Durham, NC, where we will be convening!
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