AAA Science Communication Bootcamp: empowering members with effective communication strategies

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This presentation summarizes the outcomes from the inaugural AAA Science Communication Boot Camp (SCBC). SCBC is a 3-day, hands-on professional development workshop in effective science communication strategies. The inaugural workshop was convened in Indianapolis, IN, from July 10-12, 2019, with the following goals: 1) To equip a cadre of AAA members with a toolkit of methods proven to enhance the effectiveness of science communication: dynamic listening, message distilling, storytelling, and audience connection all derived from the principles of improvisational theater; and 2) To provide a collegial and interactive environment where SCBC participants can practice the communication skills they learn in real time, network with others, and train to communicate science with the media and with policymakers. Days 1 and 2 of SCBC focused on formal communication training from the faculty of the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science at Stony Brook University. The Alda Method borrows techniques from applied improvisational theater to teach participants to effectively connect with their audience in real time, to distill their message into language that is free from jargon and easily understood by the general public, and to use storytelling as a mechanism for these tasks. Day 3 of SCBC focused on communication with media, visual communication, and communication with policymakers. A morning panel of local and regional print, radio, and television reports and media professionals spoke to participants about effective ways to communicate the importance of their work to general audiences. The media panel was followed by a session on the importance of visual communication led by a representative of the Indiana Center for Translational Science. The afternoon included two sessions where SCBC participants were able to apply techniques learned over the previous two days: mock media interviews and advocacy training for effective communication with policymakers run by FASEB staff. Participants completed pre- and post-workshop evaluations (5-pt. Likert scale) regarding their comfort and willingness to communicate their science in multiple media platforms. We predicted that more participants would agree/strongly agree with the evaluation statements on the post-workshop survey than on the pre-workshop survey. Twenty-nine participants were surveyed, and response rates were high (79% pre-survey, 89% post-survey). Data were analyzed by independent samples t-tests of means between pre- and post-workshop surveys. Likert scores were considered statistically significant with a Bonferroni correction of 0.05 for 9 analyses (i.e., p<0.0056). Data demonstrate that participants found the program to be valuable because they left with a science communication toolkit to draw on as they continue practicing how to communicate their work to diverse audiences. We expect to offer additional SCBC programs in the future.