“Scientists are becoming more and more aware of the need to communicate the importance of science ”
Susmita Pati is Chief Medical Program Advisor for the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science at Stony Brook University as well as a Professor of Pediatrics at Stony Brook University. We discuss the importance of scientists being able to communicate with the public, what is at stake (credibility & funding), and the tools she and her team have to help us get better, including the upcoming Immersion program. The inclusivity and the importance of this work resonate!
Key learnings
How Susmita came to realize importance of clear communication as the child of immigrant parents
Emphasizing communication skills for when a scientist connects with the public
How aware are scientists about the gap between public expectations and their skill set
The expectation from those who fund science to have the findings be properly communicated to the public
What is at stake when we are asked to speak to the public: credibility and funding
The international impact of the Alda Center to date
Choosing the word “scientist” in creating the scope of this project
The value of creating experiential workshops along the dictum “see one, do one, teach one”
Learning “Yes, and…” along with the value of making your teammates look good
The components that make the workshops maximally effective
Where pushback comes from and what success looks like
The upcoming Medical Immersion and how to apply
Links
Twitter @aldacenter
More about Susmita: https://www.aldacenter.org/users/susmita-pati
The Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science: https://www.aldacenter.org
The Medical Immersion program: https://www.aldacenter.org/medical/immersion The General Medical Workshop page: https://www.aldacenter.org/medical