Facilitating Science Communication in the College of the Environment - Report from the College of the Environment Science Communication Task Force

Transcription

1 Cllege f the Envirnment Science Cmmunicatin Task Frce Final Reprt Facilitating Science Cmmunicatin in the Cllege f the Envirnment - Reprt frm the Cllege f the Envirnment Science Cmmunicatin Task Frce Table f Cntents Executive Summary... 2 Backgrund... 3 Assessment Methdlgy... 3 Recmmendatins fr Advancing Science Cmmunicatin in CEnv... 5 Literature Cited /20/2012 Page 1 f 7

2 Executive Summary Cllege f the Envirnment Science Cmmunicatin Task Frce Final Reprt Increasing the transparency and cllabrative ptential f the prcess and the results f science science cmmunicatin is a cre bjective f the Cllege f the Envirnment s Strategic Directin. The Science Cmmunicatin Task Frce (SCTF) was charged with advising the Dean s Office abut pathways t supprt CEnv scientists students, staff and faculty in strategically and effectively sharing their wrk with ther scientists, plicy-makers, tribes, educatin rganizatins, supprters and dnrs, resurce managers, the media, and the public. There is a strng cnsensus amng SCTF members that the supprt, prmtin and advancement f science cmmunicatin in CEnv are critical fr the success f the Cllege, and fr a sustainable future. While the SCTF realizes that there are myriad demands n faculty time and that funding fr new initiatives is limited, investments in science cmmunicatin will present a return n investments in bth the career success f individual scientists and finding slutins t pressing envirnmental challenges. The SCTF therefre recmmends substantial investment be made in bth effrt and funding t prmte science cmmunicatin at the Cllege level. The SCTF strngly recmmends the fllwing actins: Develp a web prtal and netwrk fr researchers within UW t advance and share science cmmunicatin effrts, expertise, tls and technlgies, s t increase researchers capacity fr science cmmunicatin Wrk with faculty and departmental leadership t change prmtin and tenure criteria t incentivize science cmmunicatin Prvide science cmmunicatin training fr faculty and students Other recmmendatins include: Develp standards t quantify and evaluate science cmmunicatin utputs and utcmes. Prvide pprtunities, resurces, and rewards fr autnmus science cmmunicatin effrts This reprt prvides details abut hw the SCTF arrived at their recmmendatins, further ideas t help advance science cmmunicatin in CEnv, and an examinatin f the feasibility f the recmmendatins. 11/20/2012 Page 2 f 7

3 Cllege f the Envirnment Science Cmmunicatin Task Frce Final Reprt Backgrund Science infrms slutins t pressing issues that we face as individuals, cmmunities, and as a planet. As a result, making scientific data and cncepts accessible thrugh effective science cmmunicatin is increasingly imprtant. As a public institutin, the Cllege f the Envirnment (CEnv) has the respnsibility t share research with sciety, in rder t fuel discvery, infrm management practices, prmte the rle f science in public discurse, decisin-making and envirnmental stewardship, and accelerate slutins t sme f ur mst pressing envirnmental issues (Lubchenc, 1998; Grffman et al., 2010). In particular, there is an increasing call fr mre cllabrative prductin (c-prductin) f bth scientific results and research questins, rather than just ne-way disseminatin f science frm academic institutins. The pprtunity fr CEnv t increase the transparency and cllabrative ptential f the prcess and the results f science termed science cmmunicatin in this reprt is a strategic step in fulfilling its visin as a leader in bth science and academia. CEnv is cmmitted t prmting and facilitating science cmmunicatin. Our Strategic Directin highlights this bjective, and utlines the fllwing assciated pririties: Establish the Cllege s reputatin as a reliable and relevant resurce fr envirnmental decisin-making Engage with diverse cmmunities t gain insight int scietal cnstraints, traditinal knwledge, and perspectives that infrm ur understanding f envirnmental issues. Deepen partnerships with gvernment, industry, nn-prfit rganizatins, and media Use strategies that wrk acrss the cmmunicatin spectrum, via cntemprary and traditinal media The Science Cmmunicatin Task Frce (SCTF) was charged with advising the Dean s Office abut pathways t supprt CEnv scientists students, staff and faculty in accmplishing these gals, thrugh strategically and effectively sharing their wrk with ther scientists, plicymakers, tribes, educatin rganizatins, supprters and dnrs, resurce managers, the media, and the public. Assessment Methdlgy Initiated in February 2012, the SCTF met thrughut the spring, summer and fall in a series f wrkshps. The SCTF tk a brad view f the ways in which peple chse t engage in science cmmunicatin thrughut CEnv, and brainstrmed ways in which the Dean s Office can encurage, catalyze, supprt, imprve and reward science cmmunicatin effrts. The SCTF then identified and priritized cncrete and feasible steps the Dean s Office can take t supprt, facilitate and reward science cmmunicatin acrss CEnv, in line with its strategic directin. These steps cnsidered the fllwing guiding principles: 1) There are varied and diverse mdes f cmmunicatin, and varied mtivatins and values arund these effrts; seek t encmpass the greatest diversity f mtivatins and deliverables that exists at UW. 2) The mst effective science cmmunicatin invlves tw-way interactin listening t and incrprating the needs and interests f partners and the public int ur research as well as sharing its prcess and results. 3) Integratin f science cmmunicatin int the culture f CEnv will be mre effective in the lng-term than tacking it nt research and educatin effrts. 11/20/2012 Page 3 f 7

4 Cllege f the Envirnment Science Cmmunicatin Task Frce Final Reprt 4) Key resurces include existing science cmmunicatin effrts, which can be leveraged, valued and amplified, including thrugh new r existing scial netwrks. 5) Given the cultural ramificatins f integrating science cmmunicatin int CEnv, careful cnsideratin f incentives will help effect change. 6) Metrics need t be develped and cnsidered t measure utput and utcmes and success f science cmmunicatin effrts. 7) Csts and benefits shuld be cnsidered fr each recmmendatin; priritizatin given current and future cnstraints will maximize effectiveness. The SCTF saw the achievement f CEnv s science cmmunicatin gals as dependent n addressing three related bjectives: (A) Prvide strategic pprtunities fr science cmmunicatin Effective scientists must be able t cnnect with thers, bth within different scientific disciplines and utside f academia altgether, wh are wrking n r interested in similar issues but may be lking thrugh a different lens. Researchers need strategic pprtunities t engage with ther scientists, university units, business leaders, gvernment fficials and plicy-makers, the media, NGOs, the public, and ther partners. (B) Enhance access t training and tlsets Scientists rarely receive frmal training in hw t make ne s science transparent and accessible, nr t wrk utside f a narrw discipline within academia. Mre scientists are expressing a desire t d this, but they need skills and tls t effectively engage with thers in the cncentric circles f audiences that surrund their field f wrk. (C) Firmly embed scientific cmmunicatin as a characteristic f CEnv The CEnv Dean s Office can prvide pprtunities and tls fr researchers t engage in science cmmunicatin, yet there have t be incentives fr scientists t participate in this nntraditinal academic realm. Sme will engage in science cmmunicatin regardless, and sme will never engage but there are thse in the middle wh will d s prvided the career benefits utweigh the csts. T arrive at recmmendatins, the SCTF undertk the fllwing actins: - Cnsidered the range f pssible activities each bjective might cmprise (Appendix 1). - Offered insights abut hw the Dean s Office culd prvide, supprt r reward such activities in rder t achieve the bjective (Appendix 2). - Made nte f the existing effrts currently taking place in CEnv (Appendix 3). Each f the three bjectives was cnsidered with respect t bth supprt f existing initiatives and develpment f new effrts, and with respect t the identified guiding principles. 11/20/2012 Page 4 f 7

5 Cllege f the Envirnment Science Cmmunicatin Task Frce Final Reprt Recmmendatins fr Advancing Science Cmmunicatin in CEnv There is a strng cnsensus amng SCTF members that the supprt, prmtin and advancement f science cmmunicatin in CEnv are critical fr the success f the Cllege, and fr a sustainable future. While the SCTF realizes that there are numerus demands n faculty time and that funding fr new initiatives is limited, investments in science cmmunicatin will present a return n investments in the career success f individual scientists and finding slutins t pressing envirnmental challenges. The SCTF therefre recmmends substantial investment be made in bth effrt and funding t prmte science cmmunicatins at the Cllege level. The SCTF recmmends the fllwing actins fr advancing science cmmunicatin and utreach, and pen science mre bradly, acrss the Cllege f the Envirnment. Each f these recmmendatins is strngly encuraged; a further analysis n feasibility is included in Appendix 4. The mst highly priritized recmmendatins invlved creating a culture prmting science cmmunicatin within CEnv (see Appendix 4 fr mre details). Each recmmendatin is als assigned a relative feasibility and an estimated start year. The SCTF envisins that, given resurce allcatin, mst f the recmmendatins culd be undertaken and successfully cmpleted within 3-5 years. (A) Opprtunities 1. Netwrk and guides fr caching / expertise / tls / technlgies FEASIBILITY: EASY/MODERATE, START YEAR: 2013 This recmmendatin is exemplified by the fllwing: Facilitate integratin with bridge entities (e.g., Sea Grant) Examples and tips fr NSF brader impacts statements Capitalize n mbile technlgies fr science cmmunicatin, utreach and engagement, e.g. smartphne apps fr citizen science prjects List f lcal media and CEnv-relevant Internet cntacts fr press releases Invite submissins t blg, newsletter, etc. 2. Online prtal exemplifying, amplifying, cnnecting, & catalyzing effrts FEASIBILITY: EASY/MODERATE, START YEAR: 2013 This recmmendatin is exemplified by the fllwing: Cllect and cnnect existing prjects and pprtunities, within and beynd CEnv Ppular science writing, vides, citizen science, crwdfunding prjects, text bks, ffline events and effrts Press releases Shwcase effective examples f science cmmunicatin Amplify & add value t unit-level utreach and cmmunicatin effrts, and track best practices Searchable archive f pen-access publicatins Create space(s) where the public can apprach and interact with researchers, fr scientific r tpic-specific dialgue (B) Tls and Training 3. Prvide faculty science cmmunicatin training FEASIBILITY: DIFFICULT, START YEAR: This recmmendatin is exemplified by the fllwing: 11/20/2012 Page 5 f 7

6 Cllege f the Envirnment Science Cmmunicatin Task Frce Final Reprt Prvide a summer institute n science cmmunicatin training Prvide cmmunicatin wrkshp add-n at lcally held prfessinal meetings Prvide ne-n-ne writing r editing supprt One-n-ne caching r cnsulting fr skilled needs like vide editing r webdesign 4. Prvide science cmmunicatin training fr students FEASIBILITY: DIFFICULT, START YEAR: This recmmendatin is exemplified by the fllwing: Science cmmunicatin seminar, classes, r curriculum fr students CEnv graduate fellwship fr science cmmunicatin Prvide cmmunicatin wrkshp add-n at lcally held prfessinal meetings Prvide ne-n-ne writing r editing supprt One-n-ne caching r cnsulting fr skilled needs like vide editing r webdesign (C) Cultural Embedment 5. Prvide tp-dwn incentives FEASIBILITY: DIFFICULT, START YEAR: This recmmendatin is exemplified by the fllwing: Change prmtin and tenure requirements t include science cmmunicatin and utreach Develp ways t quantify science cmmunicatin impacts Output Outcmes Endrse pen data, pen research prcesses, pen access publicatin 6. Prvide resurces, rewards, r incentives fr autnmus effrts FEASIBILITY: MODERATE, START YEAR: 2014 This recmmendatin is exemplified by the fllwing: Specific shrt-term/smaller-scale science cmmunicatin gals requiring measurement f impact Best phtgraph, vide, visualizatin r explanatin; award f a cl science thing Slutins-based prize, with cmmunicatin, interdisciplinarity requirements Financial supprt fr new r nging science cmmunicatin prjects, including prgramming r design wrk Add CEnv funding r ther resurces t already landed fellwships CEnv funding t match r tp up prjects seeking crwdfunding The SCTF als cnsidered the prcess by which these recmmendatins, and the verall gals, will be achieved. Members suggest the fllwing guidelines as the Dean s Office mves frward: During the rllut f recmmendatins t brader audiences, a qualitative explanatin f the ways in which science cmmunicatin can prmte success, fr bth faculty and students, shuld be prvided. A netwrk map f science cmmunicatrs acrss CEnv and acrss campus will help clarify and cnnect cmmunicatin effrts. 11/20/2012 Page 6 f 7

7 Cllege f the Envirnment Science Cmmunicatin Task Frce Final Reprt A rllut f recmmendatins might include key infrmant interviews, acrss CEnv and then acrss UW, which wuld bring additinal perspectives frm peple identified t be interested r engaged in similar effrts. Literature Cited Grffman, P.M., Stylinski, C., Nisbet, M.C., Duarte, C.M., Jrdan, R., Burgin, A., Previtali, M.A., Cls, J Restarting the cnversatin: Challenges at the interface between eclgy and sciety. Frntiers in Eclgy and the Envirnment 8, Lubchenc, J Entering the century f the envirnment: A new scial cntract fr science. Science /20/2012 Page 7 f 7