While science outreach can be simply about the joy of giving back to the community, it can also be used to support and accelerate your research career. Universities and research centres are starting to prioritise scientific outreach, and considering the unfortunate escalation in public mistrust in science and scientists, this is a wonderful thing. If you ever get frustrated by how people see science or your field, get out there, talk to people and change their minds. It can be difficult to believe this when reading the comments section under any scientific news article, but the public does want to know about your field, and they will want to talk to you about your research. People really are thirsty for accurate information in this cesspool of misinformation. Scientists talking to people increases scientific transparency, increases the public’s trust in the scientific process, and improves scientific literacy so that people can make informed decisions, identify accurate versus inaccurate information, and identify information bias in the news (and therefore advocate and vote for science backed policies. Over 60% of Australians think scientists should be more involved in policy-making).
What is science outreach and how is it different from science communication?
While there can be a little overlap between the two, science communication focuses on communicating your research to a specific audience that usually includes people from the scientific community, whereas outreach involves communicating with a non-technical audience, where there is often (but not always) direct one-on-one communication. There are lots of options for outreach activities, including:
- Public talks
- Taking science activities to schools
- Teacher training
- Public events such as science festivals and family events
- Writing for websites such as The Conversation
- Taking members of the public on walking tours or conducting species identification workshops
- Getting involved with community groups, for example, programs for disadvantaged at-risk youth
Outreach can help you stand out as a researcher
Of course, it is admirable to give back to the community and attempt to change the public’s perception but it’s often easy to forget that our colleagues and peers are also members of the community who read online blogs, go to public talks and have children who attend school. Therefore, outreach can be a great way to network. For example, writing for a website such as The Conversation can highlight your expertise to members of other research groups or might lead to a radio or TV interview, which may lead to more media opportunities and exposure for you and your research. When your research topic comes up in the news at any time, media outlets will often trawl through The Conversation for the names of experts (such as you) and will call on you for your opinion.
Government policy work and legal committees are where real change happens (albeit very slowly). As experts in our fields, we may sometimes be called upon to give evidence in court on behalf of our research species or to advocate for the preservation of our field sites. Learning to speak to a broad, educated audience from many different fields is an important skill and can be more effective when you can practice talking to a wide variety of people, from all walks of life, about your research.
Large grants or funding programs often include a service section where you need to show you are active in academic service. This can include reviewing manuscripts for, or being on, the editorial board of a research journal, sitting on committees such as an equity and inclusion committee or an outreach working group (hint hint), or performing outreach in the community on behalf of your research institution.
“I’d rather be covered in honey and tied to an ant’s nest than speak in public”
When I became a biologist, I honestly believed that I would be left alone in my lab or at my field site with my animals and never, ever, (ever) have to speak to another human again. That idea really didn’t pan out… If you also hate the idea of public speaking, starting out by talking to a class of super excited hyperactive 5-year-olds is a risk-free possibility. Little kids are insanely excited about scientists and science, and you will feel like a superhero if you turn up at a school in a lab coat or with a plant or a microscope. Children are hungry for knowledge and science is incredibly exciting to them. I personally think that all scientists should do a stint in outreach as it can remind you why you were likely drawn to a scientific career in the first place: for the pure joy of discovery and sharing information with like-minded people out in a big, beautiful world where Reviewer 2 is not invited.
Chris Wacker
Outreach Officer
