Hello and welcome to the Science Communication Libguide!
In this guide, you will find answers to the following questions:
Science communication (SciComm) is the ability for researchers to share information about their work with non-experts in ways that any audience can understand. This communication can be presented verbally (in a talk), in writing (in a paper or grant), or visually (in art or a visual aid). Whether you're a microbiologist, engineer, software designer, or doctor, the ability to translate complex and nuanced scientific language into a narrative that a wide audience can understand is valuable.
SciComm can help you connect with potential stakeholders and investors, explain the value and impact of the exciting research you're doing, and facilitate conversation within your field!
It also directly supports you on your journey as a researcher by helping you develop written and verbal communication skills, promoting your work within and outside the scientific community, and providing you with the means to expand your professional network.
Public engagement goes hand-in-hand with how science can have a broader impact on society. Check out the sources below and their descriptions of public engagement and broader impacts.
"Public engagement describes the myriad of ways in which the activity and benefits of higher education and research can be shared with the public. Engagement is by definition a two-way process, involving interaction and listening, with the goal of generating mutual benefit." (SOURCE: https://www.publicengagement.ac.uk/about-engagement/what-public-engagement)
"Public engagement with science describes intentional, meaningful interactions that provide opportunities for mutual learning between scientists and members of the public." (SOURCE: https://www.aaas.org/pes/what-public-engagement)
"Broader impacts [of research relates to] the potential to benefit society and contribute to the achievement of specific, desired societal outcomes. ... These broader impacts may be accomplished through the research itself, through activities that are directly related to specific research projects, or through activities that are supported by, but are complementary to, the project." (SOURCE: https://www.nsf.gov/od/oia/publications/Broader_Impacts.pdf)
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Learn more about science communication and it's related areas by reading the resources in the following zotero library. Materials are curated by UT librarians.
Writing Science in Plain English by
Scientific writing is often dry, wordy, and difficult to understand. But, as Anne E. Greene shows in Writing Science in Plain English,writers from all scientific disciplines can learn to produce clear, concise prose by mastering just a few simple principles. This short, focused guide presents a dozen such principles based on what readers need in order to understand complex information, including concrete subjects, strong verbs, consistent terms, and organized paragraphs. The author, a biologist and an experienced teacher of scientific writing, illustrates each principle with real-life examples of both good and bad writing and shows how to revise bad writing to make it clearer and more concise.She ends each chapter with practice exercises so that readers can come away with new writing skills after just one sitting. Writing Science in Plain English can help writers at all levels of their academic and professional careers-undergraduate students working on research reports, established scientists writing articles and grant proposals, or agency employees working to follow the Plain Writing Act. This essential resource is the perfect companion for all who seek to write science effectively.
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