Nearly a quarter of survey participants were still hesitant about getting vaccinated. Some were not even open to persuasion. Communication campaigns must be tailored to the fears of sub-populations.
Scientists from the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa at Scifest Africa 2019 engage with visitors.
The South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity
Scientists enjoyed informing, exciting and inspiring the public.
Listening to science is a lot easier for politicians when behind-the-scenes intermediaries are there to help.
Morsa Images/DigitalVision via Getty Images
Before new policy can be based on evidence, decision-makers need to understand the relevant research. Intermediaries between scientists and policymakers translate information and build relationships.
Understanding how different bodies of water connect across South Africa may drive improved conservation and awareness.
Jaco van Rensburg/Shutterstock
Understanding numbers in the news or social media can empower you to figure out risks and make good choices. Here’s what to look out for to make sure you aren’t misled by COVID-19 coverage.
Public service announcements, news articles and social media posts are all part of the coronavirus messaging landscape.
Noam Galai via Getty Images
During the pandemic, clear and reliable health communication can literally be a life-and-death issue. Researchers who focus on the science of science communication highlight strategies that work.
How can more scientists learn to communicate like Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases?
Anna Moneymaker / POOL / AFP via Getty Images
Scicomm is a hashtag, and there are many programs that claim to teach scientists how to be better communicators. But it’s hard to show exactly what they’re accomplishing.
If what you’re reading seems too good to be true, it just might be.
Mark Hang Fung So/Unsplash
In recent years, a growing body of academic research has emerged that outlines how emojis can be used in all forms of communication.
A wall relief from the British Museum shows three scribes amid a military campaign of the Assyrian king Tiglath-pileser III, in Babylonia (Iraq).
WikiCommons
All cultures have communicated their knowledge in diverse and marvellous ways throughout time. Failing to see the significance of this is racist and lazy.
Teaching researchers and scientists communication skills — including social media proficiency — will help inform the public about new discoveries and research.
(Shutterstock)
Budget cuts and outsourcing content have affected the amount and quality of science journalism. Scientists should learn to communicate their own findings directly and clearly to the public.
There are productive ways to talk to people you disagree with.
CREATISTA
When the scientific establishment gets involved in partisan politics, surveys suggest, there are unintended consequences – especially for conservatives.
Science communication succeeds when it takes community knowledge seriously, works with other belief systems, and expects researchers to contribute to society.
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted how much modern societies are governed by statistics. Despite their objective appearance, these numbers gain their strength from very human relationships.
Scientists talk about their research because they want their expertise to guide real-world decisions.
Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images
A survey of over a thousand scientists reveals that their goal when communicating about their work is to help the rest of us make evidence-based decisions that draw on scientific findings.
White House Coronavirus Task Force members reference a misleading chart in a press briefing.
AP Photo/Alex Brandon
When you ask Americans what the word ‘science’ brings to mind, a majority respond ‘hope.’ Using this built-in brand can help communicate important science messages.