It’s hard to change people’s minds. Controversial topics such as climate change and vaccines are not exempt from our inherent obstinateness. Scientists assume the solution to persuasion is more effective communication. A wealth of podcasts, Twitter accounts and YouTube channels are dedicated to the digestion and dissemination of scientific information. Even Bill Nye attempts to “save(...)
Science Writing
Three-Minute Thesis: A Case Study in the Economics of Communication
Posted by | Events and HappeningsPhoto courtesy of hub.jhu.edu Economics is defined, in practice, as the act of efficiently allocating scarce resources so as to best suit the wants and needs of humankind. In the context of a factory, this notion could refer to the efficient allocation of input commodities, such as steel and plastic, so as to maximize the production(...)
Modern Papers for Modern Science
Posted by | Perspectives in ResearchIn the past 400 years, science has revolutionized the planet several times over. Modern medicine has eradicated diseases that once decimated populations, while physicists manipulate the very building blocks of the universe. Travel and communication are instantaneous worldwide. Should we one day unravel the secret of time travel, we might bring Sir Isaac Newton (b.(...)
Bridging the Gap Between the Ivory Tower and the Public
Posted by | A Day in the LifeHuman well-being and the eradication of disease are causes that bring everyone together. Some people give back by donating their change to philanthropies at the grocery store, others participate in charity events, while some take the plunge and work in fields such as health care or research. I, like many scientists, decided to make my(...)
Becoming a Science Storyteller: Tips on Communication
Posted by | Events and Happenings“Nobody has to read this crap!” Ed Yong began his talk at a recent American Society of Human Genetics symposium, The Art and Science of Science Communication, with a bombshell. As scientists, we hold information in the highest regard, especially information we discovered while toiling away in the lab. But Yong insists that no one has(...)