Proceedings released for NAS science communication workshop

[Laura Bies]

In late 2023, the National Academies of Sciences held a workshop entitled “Effective Communication with the General Public about Scientific Research that Requires the Care and Use of Animals.” The proceedings from that workshop were published recently, and contain useful guidance for ornithologists who are interested in sharing their research with various audiences, including the general public.

According to the proceedings, a number of recommendations emerged from the presentations over the two days:

• Be proactive with telling your research story and engaging with the public and the media
• Use available institutional, such as leadership, research oversight bodies, communications offices, legal staff, and government affairs offices, and consult outside experts, such as other scientists with communications experience, research advocacy organizations, and the U.S. Animal Research Openness initiative
• Be open when telling the story of your work and how animals are cared for
• Start with your goals, making clear the end goals of your research and how they relate to shared values and interests
• Provide the broader context of your research and its potential consequences for science and policy
• Being authentic by sharing your personality and passion, not just your expertise
• Listen, empathize, and be respectful
• Be prepared with talking points that address your research plan and goals, and as well as responses to possible challenging or adversarial questions
• Be direct and use plain language, not jargon
• Being concise, as research shows you only have 8 seconds, or about 20 words, to capture someone’s attention
• Exit gracefully, by knowing when to leave a conversation and having a closing
• statement ready

Preceding the workshop, the Institute of Laboratory Animal Research, (now the Board on Animal Health Science Conservation and Research) Roundtable on Science and Welfare in Laboratory Animal Use (now the Roundtable on Science and Welfare of Animals Involved in Re- search) commissioned a formal survey about scientific research with animals, which informed the workshop. The survey involved over 2000 American adults.  In response to one question, 67 percent of respondents felt that it was acceptable to conduct research with wildlife in the animals’ natural habitats, with 26 percent deeming it unacceptable.

Learn more about the workshop here, including downloading a free copy of the proceedings.

 

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