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7/22/2020 By Sweta Ravisankar; ​@sweraviiEdited by Christina M. Marvin Imagine an instance when you did something for the first time. How did you feel? Were you cool and logical? Scared, but a steady? A twister of emotions? Science brings forth the concept of logical reasoning. This analytical power of the brain enables research scientists to shape research […]

By Shira D. Gordon, PhD; @SheRockScienceEdited by Christina M. Marvin When a crisis happens, we all react differently. My way of bringing hope was to help spread useful and accurate information. I created an educational video for lay audiences, from the perspective of understanding the science behind the virus.​ As misinformation continues to spread, more professional scientists […]

5/14/2020 1 Comment Edited by Christina M. Marvin Siri Carpenter, science writer and editor-in-chief for The Open Notebook. Photo courtesy of Siri Carpenter. Part 2! Earlier this month, we covered the ins and outs of science writing. This week, we continue our conversation with Siri Carpenter as she discusses the transition from science writing to […]

In three short weeks we transitioned from our plans for a face-to-face (FTF) conference to virtual live-streamed event. While there were a few hiccups (and cats!), overall the event was a major success, and feedback from the post-conference survey has been overwhelmingly positive. Several organizations have asked us about the transition to a virtual conference, […]

We’ve all heard the term STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. What about STEAM? The “A” stands for Art, because art is a beautiful and fun way to connect complex topics, attract interest to cool research, and explore science in new ways.​​Science Talk and Sigma Xi, the Scientific Research Honor Society, are partnering together on a new […]

Watch and share on VimeoCenter for Environmental Filmmaking, American University  Director/Producer Larry Kirkman, larry@american.edu, larrykirkman.comEditor/Producer Shannon Shikles, shannon.shikles@gmail.com, shannonshikles.com “Clear and simple is not enough,” argues Rush Holt in my new video, SciComm: Raising Our Voice for Science in Public Policy. “It has to be meaningful,” he says.  “It has to communicate the science in a […]

This post was contributed by Picture as Portal® cofounder, Betsy Palay. Betsy is a Certified Medical Illustrator and science communicator. She is a founder, former president, and previous creative director of Artemis Creative, Inc. She was president of the Association of Medical Illustrators from 2009 – 2010. Around 1440, Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press […]

Edited by Simon Bakke Working with animals is one of the most gratifying and frustrating things during experiments. As an elephant researcher, I get to interact up close with the trunk of the African elephant both domestically at Zoo Atlanta and in the field in South Africa. Working with elephants is something I’ve wanted to […]

Edited by Simon Bakke Flies, humans, and tomatoes have approximately the same number of genes in their genomes — but humans are clearly a complex species when compared to flies or tomatoes. One aspect of the human genome that I study, called Long non-coding ribonucleic acid molecules (referred to as LncRNA), can potentially explain the complexity of […]

When it comes to getting your ideas heard, the words you choose and your timing can make all the difference.  So can using influence to bring people into your ideas. In part two of this blog (read part one), you’ll get practical tips on how to frame your ideas and build support for getting them […]

You may be surprised to find that what you say matters less than how you say it.  More than 250 attendees at the annual scholarship luncheon for the Lawrence Livermore Laboratory Women’s Association learned what it takes to create a strong, engaging presence and how to use voice, words and timing to gain support for […]

Damian Davalos shares wildlife and wild places through livestreaming his hikes.Originally published in American Scientist The environment is threatened like never before in human history, and some environmentalists worry that outdoor activities that lead to increased support for wildlife conservation are less popular among the current generation of children than staying inside and playing around on the internet. The concerns about this […]

By Katherine Huang, Founder and Executive Director When I was eleven, I was obsessed with Percy Jackson, a book series about the adventures of a teenage demigod. While watching the movie, I thought Apollo was pretty good-looking, and ended up on a video montage of Greek male models. What captured my attention, though, was the Greek […]

Greetings All! Science Talk wants to remain responsive to the needs and interests of our conference attendees. So, once again, we will use a modified unconference model for SCIENCE TALK ’20. Our conference-unconference hybrid is similar to a traditional conference in that the Programming Committee will continue to organize the overall conference schedule, coordinate details, and invite Keynote speakers […]

One of under-appreciated joys of being a denizen of a STEM field: you get to apply your knowledge to investigate real-world answers to questions as fantastical as you can dream up. Ever wanted to know what Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory would cost if you had to power it, pay your Oompa Loompas, and install a […]

Written by Bruce Kirchoff,  Department of Biology, UNCG. Illustrations by Jon Wagner, East Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District, Portland, OR. Edited by Simon Bakke. Science Talk (#SciTalk19) is an annual two-day conference that brings together scientists and science communication professionals to improve scientific communication. I was there to talk about the work the University […]

Edited by Simon Bakke I recently had the opportunity to interview Dr. Feliú-Mójer, Neurobiologist and Science Communicator. We talked about why owning your identity is key to making science inclusive, accessible, and fresh. To Dr. Feliú-Mójer, connecting science with community and culture opens all kinds of doors. I wanted to start off hearing a little […]

Edited by Simon Bakke Science communication is not a field many scientists hold in high regard, since it is not within the common confines of the academic or career industry. Scientists are not encouraged to interact with people outside of their field unless it benefits them. When it comes to science communication, I want to […]

Edited by Simon Bakke Dr. Laura Lindenfeld has not followed a conventional career path. Attending school both in the United States and abroad, Lindenfeld discovered a passion for food and culture. These passions led her to focus on food as it relates to the environment, which in turn led her to focus on the people […]

Edited by Simon Bakke We live through others and others live through us by way of storytelling. At some point on the evolutionary timescale, humans or human ancestors began telling stories huddled around the warmth of a campfire. Stories of success in warfare, failure in love, origin myths, and local gossip are ubiquitous genres. Cultural […]

Edited by Simon Bakke Twitter is an incredibly powerful tool for networking with other researchers and connecting your work with new audiences. But while it seems lower-stakes than more formal modes of communication such as articles and public talks, it requires thoughtful use to get the most out of it. Why should you bother putting in […]

Edited by Simon Bakke ​Imagine getting to have personal conversations with a real scientist when you were in middle school. You could ask them as many questions as you could write and learn about what being a scientist is actually like. How would that change your idea of what opportunities were open to you? How […]

Written by Bernardo Traversari ​Edited by Simon Bakke I recently saw a TedX Talk by Will Stephen, a writer for Saturday Night Live. The theme of his talk was… nothing. Absolutely nothing. His talk wasn’t about any topic in particular, it had no insightful data or quirky animations, he had no message to convey; yet he presented himself as this smart […]