LibGuides: Science and Politics: Communicating with the Public

Science Communication

Science Communication is a scholarly journal looking at the nature of expertise, the diffusion of knowledge, and the communication of science and technology among professionals the to the public.

Online Guides

Communication 101: Communication Basics for Scientists and Engineers
A basic guide that helps you apply the basics of good communication to the specialized nature of scientific topics. Discusses how to choose the right words for your audience, developing a 3-point message, how to illustrate your points, and the role non-verbal communications plays in delivering your message.
Public Engagement with Science- Top Tips
A no-nonsense collection of tips for designing public engagement activities by Dr. Alice Bell from Imperial College London. Namely, know your audience, communication goes goth ways, and be realistic about your goals.
A Manifesto for the Simple Scribe
This is a rather illuminating collection of suggestions for the aspiring journalist...or scientist...on how to communicate with audiences outside your own disciplinary niche.
Scitable : Scientific Communication
Put together by Nature Publishing, this page includes a number of mini courses, guides and other material on how to effectively communicate scientific information with a wide number of audiences.
Science Communication & Science Journalism
Teh Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology has put together a rather good booklet looking at the role scientific journalism plays in advancing public understanding about scientific advances and their social applications, and how scientists can better communicate with journalists to get their message across.

Books

Public Understanding of Science: A History of Communicating Scientific Ideas by Knight, David
Call Number: Q223.K552006

ISBN: 0415206383

Publication Date: 2006

Answering questions such as whether the interesting parts of science be conveyed in sermons, poems, pictures and journalism, Knight explores the history of science to show how the successes and failures of our ancestors can help us understand the position science comes to occupy now.
The Hands-On Guide for Science Communicators: A Step-by-Step Approach to Public Outreach by Christensen, Lars Lindberg and Martin Kommesser
Call Number: Q223 .C49 2007eb

ISBN: 0387499601

Publication Date: 2007

This electronic book draws from the experience of Lars Lindberg Christensen, who worked in the Hubble European Space Agency Information Centre on how to best communicate with the public. He uses numerous examples from the area of physics and astronomy to illustrate his points.
A Scientist's Guide to Talking with the Media: Practical Advice from the Union of Concerned Scientists. by Hayes Richard and Daniel Grossman
Call Number: Q225.H392006

ISBN: 0813538572

Publication Date: 2006

This book discusses the importance of scientists communicating with the media about their research and provides tips on how to translate abstract and complex ideas into sound bites and interviews that members of the public can understand, and how to become a reporter's trusted source on controversial issues.
Style and Ethics of Communication in Science and Engineering by John D. Enderle (Contribution by); Jeffrey Holmes; Jay D. Humphrey
Call Number: T10.5.H8652009

ISBN: 1598292986

Publication Date: 2008-11-15

National Association of Science Writers

Articles About Scientific Communication

How I Write About Science
A series of articles from top scientific journalists giving advice on how they write about science for main-steam media.
Dispelling Myths About Science Communication
Some myths about how to communicate science to the general public, and some tips for keeping your audience's interest - and your credibility - intact.
In Defense of Metaphors in Science Writing
Why metaphors are important when communicating outside your discipline, and how they can help and hinder scientific writing.