ED33A-0880
Professional Development Workshops for the Media: A Model for Engaging Scientists and Journalists in Earth and Space Sciences
Historically, there has been a delineation between those activities that promote the education of the general public (formal and information education) and those that involve journalists and the media (public affairs). However, over the last several years, there has been recognition that in the interest of "full spectrum science communication", journalists, who deliver more than 85% of the science news and content to the general public, may be legitimately seen as an audience for education activities. The goal of these activities is not primarily to promote a specific story, event or theme, but instead to broaden and deepen journalists' understanding of space science and to promote increased communication and understanding among journalists, scientists and educators. In the last several years, the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics has initiated workshops for the professional development of journalists as a cornerstone of its Education program. To date, workshops have covered Mars System Science, Life in Extreme Environments, Extrasolar Planets, Out Planets, and soon, the Role of Uncertainty in Climate Change. These programs bring together 20 elite journalists from both print and broadcast and 6-8 internationally recognized scientists in a 3-4 day encounter. Evaluation of past workshops suggests that the journalists not only feel that these workshops are a worthwhile use of their time, but that they impact the quality of their writing. Several indicated that the quality of the writing and its content had been noticed by their editor and allowed them to more easily ‘pitch' space science stories when they were in the news. Many, including several regional journalists, commented that the workshop provided a level of background information that would help them for years to come. In this talk, we present the LASP media workshop model, talk about editorial barriers for journalists and the impact of the workshops, and discuss lessons learned that increase participation by the nation's leading media outlets. http://lasp.colorado.edu/education
ED33A-0881
Lessons from Oil Pollution Research: Consensus, Controversy, and Education of Policy Makers and the Public.
Controversies concerning scientific research findings, consensus of a majority of expert scientists, and attempts by vested interest groups to offer alternative interpretations from the consensus with the goal of influencing policy makers" and the public's understanding is not a new phenomenon with respect to complex environmental issues. For example, controversies about new scientific research findings from studies of oil spills and other aspects of petroleum and petroleum refined product inputs, fates and effects in the marine environment intensified in the late 1960s to early 1970s and continues today as evidenced by ongoing debates surrounding the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill. This paper provides an overview of the interactions between authentic new scientific findings with respect to oil pollution in the marine environment in the late 1960s and early 1970s, the consensus gained in the ensuing years by continued research, and through various science - policy processes, and a spectrum of concomitant public education efforts. Lessons learned from this ongoing process may be instructive to current debates in other arenas of environmental science.
ED33A-0882
The (Virtual) Knowledge Train in ACCENT, the European Network of Excellence in Atmospheric Composition Change
This contribution illustrates the integrated approach adopted by the European Network of Excellence in Atmospheric Composition Change (ACCENT) for the global dissemination of high-quality (web-based) resources and knowhow on air quality science to a variety of target groups. http://www.accent-network.org
ED33A-0883
Authentic Water Science Education through WWW Video Lesson Plans
Teachers, media and the public find the science world is a confusing place and heavy work loads and lack of time contribute to their inability to search out authentic science and scientists to clarify key issues and problems. This program uses free web based video and lesson plans developed by an environmental scientist and science education specialist, both of whom are tenured faculty with a major public institution. The Webisode Video Pieces feature scientists with outstanding refereed publication records discussing their work in field and lab locales. Lessons plans build on video clips on specific topics covered by each Webisode. Thirty and sixty second Public Service Announcements (PSAs) are produced for distribution to all TV networks. These provide a problem statement, a brief discussion of the issue and encourage the viewers to visit the website for more information.
ED33A-0884
Discoveries and Breakthroughs Inside Science:Informal Education for STEM and AGU Related Sciences
As a primary source of news, more people rely on local TV news than any other medium for their news and information. As a result, The American Geophysical Union has partnered with the American Institute of Physics in their production of Discoveries and Breakthroughs Inside Science (DBIS). DBIS is syndicated science news service that distributes 12, 90-second science news segments to over 90 local TV stations throughout the USA each month. While the segments cover a wide range of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics)topics, approximately 4 of these segments each month focus on research topics of interest to AGU members. Meet DBIS's senior science editor and learn about DBIS. Find out how you can participate in a DBIS segment, help with DBIS production, learn how DBIS segment topics are chosen, and hear why the AGU got involved with DBIS and how they work with the program. http://www.discoveriesandbreakthroughs.org
ED33A-0885
Drill Bits: Education and Outreach for Scientific Drilling Projects
Drill Bits is a series of short, three- to five-minute videos that explore the research and capture the challenging nature of large scientific drilling projects occurring around the world. The drilling projects, conducted under the auspices of the International Continental Scientific Drilling Program (ICDP), address fundamental earth science topics, including those of significant societal relevance such as earthquakes, volcanoes, and global climate change. The videos are filmed on location and aimed at nonscientific audiences. The purpose of the Drill Bits series is to provide scientific drilling organizations, scientists, and educators with a versatile tool to help educate the public, students, the media, and public officials about scientific drilling. The videos are designed to be viewed in multiple formats: on DVD; videotape; and science-related web sites, where they can be streamed or downloaded as video podcasts. Several Drill Bits videos will be screened, and their uses for outreach and education will be discussed.
ED33A-0886
Mixing students and performance artists to provide innovative ways of communicating scientific research
In May 2007 the Open University (U.K.) in conjunction with the MK (Milton Keynes) Gallery invited performance artists Noble and Silver to work with a group of students to design innovative methods of disseminating their research to a general audience. The students created a multitude of well-received live and multimedia performances based on their research. Students found they greatly benefited from the artists' and each others' different viewpoints and backgrounds, resulting in improved communication skills and varying interpretations of their own topic of interest. This work focuses on research aimed at identifying precursory activity at volcanoes using temperature, earthquake and ground movement data, to aid improvement of early warning systems. For this project an aspect of the research relevant to the public was chosen: the importance of appropriately timed warnings regarding the possibility of an eruption. If a warning is issued too early it may cause complacency and apathy towards the situation, whereas issuing a warning too late may endanger lives and property. An interactive DVD was produced which leads the user through the events preceding a volcanic eruption. The goal is to warn the public about the impending eruption at the most appropriate time. Data is presented in short film clips, after which questions are posed. Based on the player's answers the consequences or follow-up events of the choices are explored. We aim to improve and expand upon this concept in the near future, as well as making the DVD available to schools for educational purposes.