Posted on No Comments on Symposium 2022

Symposium 2022

Thank you to all who attended the 4th Annual SciPol Symposium! Keep an eye out for the details on next year’s 2023 symposium.

When: Saturday, May 7, 2022 | 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM

Where: Northwestern University – Norris University Center and Virtual

Public trust in science is always evolving, and questions surrounding how science is practiced, trustworthiness of information sources, and the persistence of science myths are growing day by day. Therefore, SPOT’s 4th Annual SciPol Symposium will focus on how and why the public chooses to trust scientists and their research, emphasizing the links between science policy and communication. Through this programming, scientists will be empowered to share their own research stories to the public, with the goal of positively influencing policy and public perception of science.

See below for information on lectures, panels, workshops, schedule id , and registration. Contact spotforcenu@gmail.com with any questions!

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Keynote Lecture – “Science in Real Time: What we can learn from play-by-play pandemic coverage and the intersection of research and the public”

Speaker: Becky Lang – Former Editor-in-Chief of Discover Magazine, Freelance Health and Science Editor, and Northwestern Alumna (Medill School of Journalism, BS)

Description: Explaining how science is relevant to all of us is already a tough job. Toss in a novel virus that spreads around the world, add to it some of the starkest politicization we’ve seen in decades and top it off with journalists who suddenly find themselves non-experts in an experts’ field, and you’ve got the recipe for a public that’s confused, exasperated and looking for answers.

Our keynote lecture from Becky Lang will address the fundamental themes of how science shapes public life, how the media facilitates these relationships and how the public decides to place trust in science – if they choose to in the first place. From a local to a national scope, Becky’s perspectives on how to hook a reader into a story and how she mediates scientists, journalists and the public will shape every scientist’s efforts to build trust with the public.

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Panel Discussion – “Professional Perspectives on Science Communication”

Panelists

  • Cyatharine Alias – Manager at Center for Neighborhood Technology (Urban Sustainability and Equity)
  • Cara Pratt – City of Evanston Sustainability and Resilience Coordinator
  • Dr. Kyle Dolan – Head of Science and Innovation at British Consulate-General Chicago, Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

This panel will focus on how science communication and policy go hand in hand, ranging from perspectives in international policy to data visualization. This event will start with select questions in the first half and open up to general Q&A in the second half. Topics will include but are not limited to career trajectory, personal experiences with bridging science and policy, how to overcome specific barriers in communicating science to the public, how the current climate has altered interactions with the public, and how scientists can move things forward with public trust in science.

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Workshops

Session 1 – “Combating Disinformation: The Role of Science in Voter Rights Advocacy”

*In-person only

Presenter(s): Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) and Science Rising

  • Linda Trey – Community and Partnerships Organizer for the UCS Clean Transportation Team

  • David Combs – Acting Campaign Manager for the UCS Global Security Program

Description: Now more than ever there is a need for scientists to be actively involved in civic life and conversations about policy. In this workshop from UCS and Science Rising, participants will learn how to identify and counter disinformation in order to more effectively advocate for evidence-based policy.

Outcomes:

  • Identify disinformation and the negative impacts associated with it
  • Construct counternarratives to combat disinformation
  • Learn how to increase you and your peers’ civic engagement

 

Session 1 – “Stop the Doom Scrolling: Communicating Science in the Modern Era of Distractions”

*Virtual option offered

Presenter(s): Dr. Vince Tedjasaputra, Director of Scientific Communications at American Lung Association, Ph.D. in Pulmonary Physiology

Description: Today, we’re all distracted by everything from the 24-hour news cycle, to email overload, to doom scrolling on social media – how can science communicators hope to break through the noise? The key is to customize messages for each audience in a visually appetizing way, but staying true to the science.

Outcomes:

  • Cover common content missteps we make as scientists and best practices for more effective and engaging presentations of data—presentations that encourage discussion, collaboration, and engagement on social media.
  • Discuss how attendees can improve their own presentations through real-life examples
  • Learn about powerful presentation tools freely available online

 

Session 2 – “Forms and Figures: Visual Literacy in Science”

*Virtual option offered

Presenter(s): The University of Illinois at Chicago

  • Kelly Cloninger, Clinical Assistant Professor in Biomedical Visualization

  • Sam Bond, Associate Program Director for Undergraduate Education – Life Science Visualization

Description: Images and figures are central to understanding and communicating science, but visual literacy is often not a formal part of scientific training. In this interactive workshop, our speakers will illuminate how scientists can use elements of visual design to convey compelling messages, both beautifully and efficiently.

Outcomes:

  • Learn principles of visual design relevant to the scientific fields
  • Think about new ways to visualize data in figures and other visual formats
  • Interact with figures and identify what elements can make scientific images more powerful

 

Session 2 – “New Media, New Audiences: Audiovisual #SciComm”

*In-person only

Presenter(s):

Description: Using different forms of media in your science communication practices can help you reach new audiences with your message! In this workshop, students will be introduced to science communication using audiovisual (AV) technology from two PhD students with experience in podcasting and TikTok video production using science content.

Outcomes:

  • Understand a background on how AV can be successful in science learning in both formal and informal education

  • Learn about how telling a scientific story through AV is similar and different to other media and how to choose the best medium based on your audience and goals

  • Digest examples of excellent science communication in podcasting, TikTok, YouTube, animation, and more

  • Practice translating science knowledge into a captivating and informative story told through AV

  • Gain resources on how to continue learning in AV skills to pursue personal science communication goals

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    Post-Symposium Networking Reception

    Our off-campus networking reception will be held at Five & Dime in Downtown Evanston. Come join us and meet science policy and communication professionals from across the Chicagoland area!

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Registration

Register for free using this link. Registration is currently open to students of all levels at Northwestern and external universities until the end of April. We look forward to seeing you on May 7th!

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Thank you to our co-sponsors!

Posted on No Comments on Symposium 2021

Symposium 2021

Bridging the Gap:
From Science to Policy

Thank you to everyone who attended our symposium this year! If you missed any of the talks or panels or if you would like to see them again, you can find links to the recordings below. Stay tuned for next year’s 2022 SPOT symposium!

As scientists we often think that our results speak for themselves, but if we want our research to impact policy, we need to think beyond the lab. Building relationships and trust with legislators, policymakers, and the public are critical for the implementation of effective science-based policies. At SPOT’s 3rd Annual SciPol Symposium, learn how scientists can better bridge the gap between science and policy to ensure that research insights positively impact communities.

 

Keynote address: A talk on the history of science policy (Recording)

Speaker: Tobin Smith (Vice President for Policy, Association of American Universities)

Keynote lecture on the history of science policy. Attendees will have the chance to ask questions in this Zoom webinar format lecture.

Panel: Insights from the social sciences: What scientists should know about policy and public engagement (Recording)

Panelists:
Dr. Tabitha Bonilla (Assistant Professor, Northwestern Institute for Policy Research)
Dr. Susan Thistle (Associate Professor, Northwestern Department of Sociology)

A moderator-led panel discussion where attendees have the ability to ask questions via the Zoom webinar format.

Panel: Paths to Science Policy: There Isn’t Just One (Recording)

Panelists:
Dr. Jessica Creery (AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellow at NIH Office of Science Policy)
Dr. Jeffrey Margolis (Founder and President, Innovation Strategies Inc.)
Dr. Nancy Goroff (Professor, Stony Brook University Department of Chemistry)
Dr. Olga Lyandres (Senior Specialist, Delta Institute)

A moderator-led panel discussion where attendees have the ability to ask questions via the Zoom webinar format.

Lecture: A talk on law, the environment, policy, and science (Recording)

Speaker: Susan Mudd (Senior Policy Advocate, Environmental Law & Policy Center)

Lecture on the intersection of law, the environment, policy, and science. Attendees will have the chance to ask questions in this Zoom webinar format lecture.

Posted on No Comments on January 2022 Newsletter

January 2022 Newsletter

Hi SPOT,

Welcome to 2022! We’re back with plenty of opportunities to get involved this winter. Read on to learn more about what’s happening in the world of NU science policy.

 

SPOT News and Events

  • SPOT Slack

Have you joined our SPOT Slack? Join to hear about science policy opportunities, share wins, and be in the know for all things SPOT! Email spotforcenu@gmail.com and we will add you.

 

  • Don’t Look Up Lunch Discussion

Are you interested in discussing topics related to science communication and policy in a casual setting? We are resuming SPOT lunch discussions on Friday, February 4th from 1-2 pm with a discussion of the Netflix film Don’t Look Up! Watch the film (if you haven’t already) and join other students for a conversation about its portrayal of science. Although the discussion will take place over Zoom, we are offering lunch for pickup on the Evanston campus at 1 pm. Please register here. 

 

  • **New project** Collab with Citizens’ Greener Evanston

We are partnering with Citizens’ Greener Evanston to help educate our local community on climate change mitigation strategies. The product will be a series of one-pagers about topics like decarbonizing buildings including information on how residents can implement available tools in their own homes. To make these accessible, we will also convert information into infographics. Join this initiative here if you want to make an impact locally and gain skills on succinctly and thoroughly communicating science! This is the first phase of a potentially longer project to advise on policies in Evanston.

 

  • Book Club Discussion

If you are interested in joining our regularly occurring Science Policy Book Club, please fill out this form. We meet bimonthly, starting in March to discuss Fatal Invention by Dorothy Roberts (2011)! Also, new this year, join the #book-club channel on our Slack if you’d like to share the book of the month to reduce purchasing/library reservations.

 

  • Member Highlight

Starting this February, we will feature one exemplary SPOT member each month on our Twitter and Instagram. If you know a SPOT member with a recent accomplishment in the world of science policy or who deserves to be featured, you can nominate them using this form. Self-nominations and anonymous nominations are welcome!

 

Other Opportunities

  • Volunteer Opportunity – Science Gallery Youth Symposium

The Youth Symposium is a four-day event that brings together young people across the globe to connect, exchange ideas and share knowledge. The theme is HOT AND BOTHERED – climate action. They are looking for proposals for workshops and sessions to contribute to the event. Learn more here!

 

  • Internship Opportunity – Dept. of Energy ARPA-E Summer Scholar

The Dept. of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy is seeking applicants for the Technology-to-Market Summer Scholars program. Read the job postings and submit a cover letter, resume, and writing sample by the January 31st application deadline. 

 

  • City of Evanston Public Comments

Want to learn about and contribute to policies affecting our local community of Evanston? Attend and participate in an Evanston City Council meeting, held every 2nd and 4th Monday of the month. Submit a public comment to be given in person, via video, or via phone here! Find the meeting agenda here to learn when to tune in.

 

In the News

  • NASA has completed deployment of the James Webb Space Telescope! The primary mirror is now fully deployed on the $10 billion telescope, which should reach its destination 1 million miles from Earth in the next few days. Once it has arrived and been aligned, the telescope will be used to study some of the oldest and most distant objects in the universe. You can read more about the deployment and the JWST here.

 

  • The Pilsen Environmental Rights and Reform Organization (PERRO) is calling on the city of Chicago to deny a new permit for a metal shredder due to possible violation of air pollution laws. The plant would be located less than a mile from three schools. Read more about this ongoing situation here.

 

  • New York City Council bans natural gas in all newly constructed buildings. In an effort to cut carbon emissions, New York City follows cities like San Francisco and San Diego in a push towards electrification. Read more about the ban and proposed state legislation here.

 

Get Involved with SPOT

  • Looking for a fun way to help people in our local Chicago community understand your science? SPOT’s outreach program, Science with Seniors, needs more volunteers for 2022! You’ll have the opportunity to present science topics of your choosing to elderly residents in both Evanston and Chicago, and practice your science communication skills along the way. Engaging with our local communities helps fight science misinformation and build public trust and appreciation of research, so we need YOU! Email emilyschafer2023@u.northwestern.edu to sign up.

 

  • Do you think legislators could benefit from learning more about your research or scientific interests? We are currently looking for people interested in writing briefs for local representatives about scientific topics as part of our Legislative Outreach Team. Email kchintam@u.northwestern.edu if you are interested!

 

  • Interested in contributing to local policy? SPOT is collaborating with Indivisible Northwestern and the Center for Civic Engagement to develop policy recommendations for the allocation of Evanston’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding for COVID-19 relief. Opportunities to contribute include taking part in community assemblies and writing memos and policies on areas such as climate change and health care. This is a great opportunity to practice your policy-related writing skills and contribute to local policy! Email colleenoaposbrien2024@u.northwestern.edu if you are interested!

 

  • Do you have any news/events/opportunities related to science policy that might be worth sharing? We welcome any items to add to the newsletter! Email spotforcenu@gmail.com if you want to share anything.

 

Find us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook for more scipol news and updates!