Theory and Best Practices in Science Communication Training

Todd P. Newman is an assistant professor in the Department of Life Sciences Communication at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA where he teaches courses on science communication, strategic communication, and marketing. Newman is the co-author of Brand (2018) -- which examines the role of brand strategy in society, including scientific debates -- and previously conducted research on science communication training as a postdoctoral associate at the University of Connecticut and the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science at Stony Brook University.

"This new book demonstrates the productive ferment of the science communication training field. The authors draw on diverse research traditions to suggest new ways of thinking about science communication. Science communication serves many goals, and these chapters suggest how practitioners might be trained to better address those goals. Ideas from this book will surely find their way into my own courses and workshops." -- Bruce Lewenstein, Chair, Department of Science and Technology Studies, Cornell University, USA"As science communication training proliferates worldwide, and is increasingly commercialised, this collection of essays and studies is timely and highly relevant. It offers a variety of perspectives, drawing on multiple disciplines and theoretical models and proposing several options for practice and policy. In this way, it provokes us to explore further the purposes and processes of training in various contexts, and to reflect more on what effective communication might mean and on important nuances of difference between training and education." -- Brian Trench, President, PCST (Public Communication of Science and Technology) international network, Ireland"This book brings together a diverse group of experts and shares different perspectives on the "science of science communication". Research on science communication and science communication training are vital to advancing our efforts to prepare scientists to discuss their work with the public, policymakers, media, and other scientists. I am thrilled this book provides this critical link, and it offers important insights to all of us who are committed to this work." -- Laura Lindenfeld, Director, Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science, Stony Brook University, USA

• Part 1. The Scientist as a Strategic Communicator 1. Scientists, Trainers, and the Strategic Communication of Science 2. What Studies of Expertise and Experience Offer Science Communication Training 3. The Meaning of Public-Private Partnerships for Science Communication Research and Practice 4. Science Engagement and Social Media: Communicating Across Interests, Goals, and Platforms Part 2. Science Communication Training Design and Assessment 5. Training Scientists to Communicate in a Changing World 6. The Challenges of Writing Science: Tools for Teaching and Assessing Written Science Communication 7. Insights for Designing Science Communication Training from Formal Science Education: Apply the Mantra and be Explicit 8. Evaluating Science Communication Training: Going Beyond Self-Reports Part 3. Future Directions for Science Communication Training 9. Abandoning the Runaway Train: Slowing Down to Draw on Lessons Learned from Health Communication Training 10. A Metro for Science Communication: Building Effective Infrastructure to Support Scientists’ Public Engagement