Communicating Science Effectively: A Practical Handbook for Integrating Visual Elements - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1843391252 ISBN 13: 9781843391258

Verlag: IWA Publishing, 2006

Inhaltsangabe

This is a practical handbook on how to communicate science effectively. The first part is an introduction to the principles of science communication and what effective science communication is, why it is important, and how to do it. The principles in these chapters include how effective science communication can change societal paradigms and make one a better scientist. General principles relating to all science communication products include providing synthesis, visualisation, and context, assembling self-contained visual elements such as photos, maps, conceptual diagrams and data, formatting content to define and simplify terms, and eliminating jargon and acronyms. Formatting of these visual elements is also discussed. This introduction is followed by chapters outlining techniques and principles for communicating in different media & desktop publishing (including posters and newsletters), presentations and websites. Techniques in these chapters include image, colour, and font formats, resolution and design tips for different media. Finally, a case study is presented to illustrate how effective science communication has become an integral part of a successful environmental science, monitoring, planning, and implementation program. The book is accompanied by extensive internet resources, including interactive software tutorials for the different software programs commonly used in communication, discussion forums for science communication issues, and links to other websites of interest. This book will be a valuable resource for scientists, working in government, research, management agencies, and education. Although environmental scientists are the primary audience, the principles and techniques discussed are applicable to scientists from all fields.

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Communicating Science Effectively

A practical handbook for integrating visual elements

By J.E. Thomas, T.A. Saxby, A.B. Jones, T.J.B. Carruthers, E.G. Abal W.C. Dennison

IWA Publishing

Copyright © 2006 IWA Publishing
All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-1-84339-125-8

Contents

Preface, v, 
1. Why is effective science communication important?, 1, 
2. What is effective science communication?, 7, 
3. How do we communicate science effectively?, 15, 
4. Conceptual diagrams, 47, 
5. Desktop publishing, 59, 
6. Posters and newsletters, 79, 
7. Presentations, 89, 
8. Websites, 99, 
9. A case study of effective science communication, 119, 
10. Index, 131, 

CHAPTER 1

Why is effective science communication important?

Scientific discovery can result in large lifestyle and philosophical changes in society. Throughout most of history, science has provided new opportunities, such as discovery of new lands, new resources, new technologies, or new insights (e.g., the formation of the planets). For much of that history, science has been carried out by the intellectual and social elite, so dissemination of new ideas was relatively easy amongst this small sector of society.

However, in the 21st century, there are some fundamental differences to the old model of scientific discovery and information dissemination. There are now many more scientists working in disparate fields, and most of these people are very specialized — no longer are writers-philosophers and scientists in the same community. There are now accepted and formal ways of communicating within the scientific community, mainly through publishing articles in journals and giving presentations to colleagues at large meetings. Throughout the 20th century, science was proclaimed as the solution to the problems of land degradation and pollution resulting from earlier discoveries during the agricultural and industrial revolutions. As a result, there is now an increasing focus on funding for science being linked to providing practical solutions to environmental problems. This creates a dilemma, for while excellent science can be conducted, science alone will not create widespread change, mainly because the channels to use this information and create change are poorly developed. In order to create changes in behavior and beliefs of the general public, broader and more effective communication of the new scientific insights being gained is required. Even where the solutions to environmental problems are clear, management, political, and ultimately public support are needed to implement the (usually) expensive solutions. Therefore, utilizing our current research effectively will require new tools to facilitate effective communication, not only to scientific peers, but also to managers, government, and ultimately, the general public.

The essence of effective science communication is the development of content-rich, jargon-free, communication-based materials. Content-rich refers to communication that is replete with data and ideas. Jargon-free refers to the elimination of shorthand notation that scientists use to communicate within their peer groups — this means removing acronyms and maintaining a common language basis for explaining concepts. Communication-based refers to focusing on the intended audience and providing an even broader base of accessibility for a wider audience.

EFFECTIVE SCIENCE COMMUNICATION CHANGES SOCIETAL PARADIGMS

Science has progressed over time with a series of paradigm shifts. These shifts occur when scientific understanding is effectively communicated to society. In an attempt to predict the next major shift, an analysis of the history of scientific paradigms was conducted. In the words of Winston Churchill, "The farther backward you can look, the farther forward you are likely to see." Over the past 500 years, a series of major paradigm shifts have occurred. Dividing the historical time-line into 50-year periods, 10 paradigm shifts have occurred since the year 1500. The first of these (1500–1550) came in astronomy from the work of Nicolas Copernicus, who postulated that the earth was not at the center of the solar system — rather, that the earth revolved around the sun. This was supported by the observations and writings of Galileo Galilei (1550–1600), who believed that the heavenly bodies consisted of physical matter rather than ethereal substances. Both Copernicus and Galileo were responding to the impetus of a need to understand where the earth was placed in the broader spectrum of the universe.

The next major paradigm shift (1600–1650) was also in astronomy. Johann Kepler formulated three laws of planetary motion, now known as Kepler's laws, which stated that planets moved in elliptical orbits, not circular orbits. Isaac Newton precipitated another paradigm shift (1650–1700) with his book on the principles of mathematics, in which he demonstrated that there were universal physical laws (e.g., gravity), which supplanted the belief that the forces of nature were only affected through physical contact. In the period 1700–1750, as more of the earth was explored, the diversity of life became evident and a need to categorize living things was evident. As a response, Carl Linnaeus and his students developed a uniform method of naming organisms, still in use today, replacing the multiple names for the same organism that previously existed.

In the period 1750–1800, the French nobleman and chemist Antoine Lavoisier disproved the phlogiston theory of combustion. This earlier theory stated that all flammable materials contain phlogiston, a substance without color, odor, taste, or weight that is released during burning. Instead, Lavoisier showed that combustion requires oxygen, setting the stage for a new theory of what happens when objects burn, and identifying and naming oxygen in the process.

Yet another major paradigm shift occurred during 1800–1850 with respect to the earth's formation. Charles Lyell postulated that the earth was shaped by gradual processes, or uniformitarism, rather than by catastrophic events. This followed Hutton's theory that the age of the earth was much greater than the accepted 6,000 years.

The evolution period (1850–1900) revolutionized the way people thought about the origin of the human species. Charles Darwin's books on evolution were best-sellers and sparked considerable debate throughout society. A key aspect of Darwin's contribution was his ability to communicate the ideas of natural selection and evolution to society through his writings.

The physics period (1900–1950) was the era of substantial discoveries in the nature of matter. Albert Einstein's theory of relativity provided a paradigm shift in the view of matter and energy, postulating that matter and energy were interchangeable. This improved understanding of matter provided the basis for nuclear physics and eventually led to atomic power and atomic bombs. The biology period (1950–2000) was stimulated by the elucidation of the structure of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) by James Watson and Francis Crick. The ensuing advances in molecular biology led to biotechnology, the human genome project, and new insights into the evolutionary relationships of living things.

EFFECTIVE SCIENCE COMMUNICATION CAN MAKE YOU A BETTER SCIENTIST

Effective communication is an important part of doing science. Many great scientists are also great communicators....

Details zur Ausgabe

• Verlag: IWA Publishing
• Erscheinungsdatum: 2006
• Sprache: Englisch
• ISBN 10: 1843391252
• ISBN 13: 9781843391258
• Einband: Taschenbuch
• Anzahl der Seiten: 132
• Herausgeber: Thomas J. E., Saxby T. A., Carruthers T., Abal E. G.
• Kontakt zum Hersteller: Nicht verfügbar
• Verantwortliche Person: Nicht verfügbar