NSF Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) “RII: Enhancing Alabama’s Research Capacity in Nano/Bio Science and Sensors”
Events and Highlights: “Science: Becoming the Messenger” NSF Workshop November 27 ‐ 28, 2012 100 Chappie James Center | Tuskegee, AL 36088 | Phone: 334‐727‐8802 | Fax: 334‐724‐4224 | EPSCoR@mytu.tuskegee.edu www.tuskegee.edu/EPSCoR_program.aspx “Science: Becoming the Messenger” NSF Workshop
Scientists from across the state traveled to Tuskegee University on Tuesday, November 27, 2012, to attend the “Science: Becoming the Messenger” workshop. This workshop, sponsored by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and Alabama NSF EPSCoR, was focused on helping scientists improve their communication abilities through verbal, written, and video methods. The workshop was attended by principal investigators, early career researchers and engineers, graduate students and postdocs from institutions and universities in Alabama who wanted to learn to communicate effectively to a broad audience. Workshop participants worked with three featured accomplished communicators and trainers ‐‐ Emmy award winning television producer Joe Schreiber, former PBS executive Dan Agan and bestselling science author Chris Mooney ‐‐ the NSF workshop provided one‐stop shopping for those seeking to reach a broader public about their work. Agan is President of Panthera Group LLC, focusing on “communications programs that successfully inform, inspire and influence mission‐critical publics.” Mooney is a journalist and commentator, and has won awards for Best American Science Writing 2010. Schreiber is President of Mattmar Productions and has helped launch the longest running sports show in television history: “George Michael Sports Machine.” Several other speakers opened the workshop by stressing the importance of being able to communicate science to legislators and the general public. The workshop had two “shows” in which the participants could practice interviewing in front of the group. The “Morning Show” was first, and interviewed scientists about their research, prior to attending any trainings. The “Evening Show” was at the end of the day, and this allowed the participants to utilize the skills they learned throughout the workshop to have a more successful interview. Social media proved to be very useful for many workshop participants. The participants were required to bring a laptop and create a Twitter account, they tweeted during the workshop in which periodic messages would pop up from the NSFMessenger account. During the media workshop, all of the participants worked together to create an online blog, which stresses the importance of science in Alabama, and how scientists need to be able to communicate this message. There was a second day to the workshop on November 28th, from which fifteen researchers from day one were selected. During this workshop, they further refined their message, trained to talk to their colleagues, public audiences and the media. Overall, the two day workshop was enthusiastically received by approximately 100 workshop participants. Pictures on the following pages.
From Left: Susan Mason ‐ NSF Legislative and Public Affairs ‐ External Affairs Director; Emmy award winning television producer Joe Schreiber, former PBS executive Dan Agan, and bestselling science author Chris Mooney‐‐the NSF workshop Dr. Mahesh Hosur ‐ PI/PD AL NSF EPSCoR, Tuskegee University gives overview of EPSCoR program Kevin Chu – NSF Program Director, EPSCoR Mahesh Hosur ‐ PI/PD AL EPSCoR Tuskegee University discussing the importance of effective communication in the scientific research field. From Left: Dan Agan ‐ NSF Workshop facilitator; Chris Mooney ‐ NSF Workshop trainer; Patrick Grayson ‐ AA&MU Graduate Research Assistant, current research is in ultra‐high Vacuum materials (UHV) and Molecular Beam Epitaxy (MBE) thin films. From Left: Dan Agan ‐ NSF Workshop facilitator; Chris Mooney ‐ NSF Workshop trainer; Amy Lang ‐ Associate Professor at the University of Alabama discussing her research in the area of bio‐
inspired fluid dynamics Researchers listening to the NSF “Science: Becoming a Messenger” workshop presenters. Enthusiastic researchers! Researchers hard at work! Sheila Cotton, UAB Sociology Professor, proudly displaying her Certificate of completion of NSF “Science: Becoming a Messenger”. Cindy Holloway, NSF Workshop facilitator; Tyrell Yorke , Tuskegee University Aerospace student/research assistant; and Felicia Jenkins, Program Administrator EPSCoR Tuskegee University