An online course on the
art of science communication

By Geoff Hunt

Geoff Hunt, ASBMB Public Outreach Coordinator

Public speaking is a challenge. Comedian Jerry Seinfeld once observed that most funeral attendees “would rather be in the casket than giving the eulogy.” Such discomfort extends to the scientific community, and research has found that scientists often shy away from participating in public outreach and engagement activities because of a lack — or perceived lack of ability to communicate with nonexpert audiences.

For many scientists, presenting and communicating is a job requirement. But training scientists to perform these tasks receives very little attention. How many scientific talks have you been to that were ruined because the speaker spent the entire presentation reading his or her slides or talked exclusively in jargon?

To help make scientists more effective communicators, the members of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Public Outreach Committee, each of whom has extensive personal experience with communication and public engagement, have developed a course called “The Art of Science Communication.” This online course trains you in the art of presenting science to a variety of audiences using nontechnical language. The course walks participants through the who, what, where, why, when and how of science communication.

Thee online format allows you to take part in class from wherever you are, whenever you are available. Consisting of a weekly set of virtual lectures, readings and other online resources, the course content covers the rationale for effective science communication and provides practical tips and insight into how to construct and then deliver a presentation. Expert mentors guide interactive, live discussions that help ensure you remain engaged and focused. The final product? Your very own polished presentation, ready to be delivered to an audience of your choosing, whether in a K – 12 classroom, in a science café, or at your family’s Thanksgiving dinner.

That being said, there is no one right way to present. We are not trying to turn everyone who takes this course into a televised science communication superstar like Neil deGrasse Tyson. Our goal is to raise your ability level to the point that you are comfortable with and proficient in communicating science. Beyond that, it will be up to you to determine how you want to apply (and continue to improve) your communication skills.

Susanna Greer, Director, Clinical Research and Immunology at the American Cancer Society

Many of the concepts and techniques presented during the course, such as how to construct a presentation or the use of proper body language, are effective for settings within and beyond the scientific community. They work in poster presentations
and formal seminar talks, in front of university classes and in the midst of public engagement activities that bring science beyond the lab.

If that isn’t enough, participants who complete the course will receive free registration for the 2016 ASBMB Annual Meeting, to be held April 2 – 6 in San Diego. You also will receive a certificate from the ASBMB indicating that you have completed the course and demonstrated proficiency in science communication — something handy for the résumé.

Interested? The course will start in early October and run through November. We expect that participants will spend three to four hours a week on the course going through the material, engaging in discussions with their peers and mentors, and working on final presentations. Note that there is a $25 charge to take the course, and participation is limited to 25 individuals.

To apply for a place in the course, please visit the ASBMB outreach website.

See you online!