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Message from the Executive Director: Interview with Britta Voss and Kylla Marie Benes, ASLO 2016 Science Communication Interns

2017; Wiley; Volume: 26; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1002/lob.10174

1539-6088

Teresa Curto,

Coastal and Marine Management

In April 2015, ASLO launched a new science communication internship (http://aslo.org/news/ 2015-aslo-science-communication-internship/). This initiative was led by ASLO Director of Communications and Science, Adrienne Sponberg. The selected interns work with Adrienne on a variety of communication, social media, policy, education, and public outreach projects designed to provide direct experience in how science is communicated to a variety of audiences. Britta Voss and Kylla Marie Benes were selected as the 2016 ASLO Science Communication Interns. Both worked with Adrienne last year, as well as at the February 2017 ASLO ASM meeting in Hawaii. I sat down with both Britta and Kylla at the conclusion of their internships to talk with them about their experience. ED: WELCOME, KYLLA AND BRITTA. TELL US ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND AND WHAT PROMPTED YOU TO APPLY FOR THE INTERNSHIP LAST SPRING. BV: I've been interested in pivoting my career towards science policy and communication for many years, and this internship was a great opportunity to see what actual work in those areas is like. My background is in biogeochemistry (mostly in rivers, but also some oceanography). My research has focused on transport and biological modification of carbon in the Fraser and Upper Mississippi River systems. In graduate school I participated in a lot of science outreach and communication on a mostly ad hoc basis, such as judging science fairs and writing articles for lay audiences here and there. During my postdoc, I have become increasingly drawn towards learning more about science policy and career paths that are centered on policy and communication. The ASLO internship is a relatively short time investment that allowed me to explore my interests and build my skills in communication and policy full-time. KMB: I am a marine ecologist mostly focused on questions about the population and community ecology of seaweeds. I recently completed my PhD and throughout my graduate career I was fortunate to gain a lot of experience in public outreach. However, I had no idea what a career in science communication looked like, particularly outside of academia, and the opportunity to experience this first-hand compelled me to apply for the internship. ED: DESCRIBE SOME OF THE PROJECTS YOU WORKED ON WITH ADRIENNE, AND HOW THEY HAVE DIRECTLY IMPACTED YOUR OWN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. BV: My main project during my internship was to help organize a series of three science communication workshops for the 2017 Aquatic Sciences Meeting. These workshops were the continuation of a years-long collaboration between ASLO and communications experts from Hollywood, premised on the idea that entertainment professionals know a lot about effective communication that scientists could apply to communicating their work. When I learned the gist of these workshops, I was surprised: Brian Palermo, an improv actor, would take a room full of scientists and show them how improv techniques could help them give better presentations. But as I learned more about the philosophy behind this approach, particularly through the book Connection: Hollywood Storytelling Meets Critical Thinking, which Brian co-authored with his science/showbiz colleagues, I began to understand how powerful this approach could be in helping get scientific information across to general audiences. At the ASM in Honolulu, I got to witness this in action: a group of twenty aquatic scientists (including me!) playing improv “games” designed to make you more conscious of the emotional impact of your words and body language and to make you actively listen to your conversation partner rather than just wait for them to stop talking. It gave me a new perspective on how scientists can be more effective in talking to the public about their research. During my internship, I also had the opportunity to learn about how science policy is made at the federal level by researching environmental science-related issues being considered by Congress and learning about ASLO members who have pursued sustained engagement with policymakers or the societal implications of their research. I was excited to see many connections between the science communication techniques underpinning the workshops and the approaches necessary to effectively communicate science to policymakers, and I left the internship firmly believing that a commitment to improving scientists' communication skills will be a critical component of ensuring that robust science remains the foundation of policy decisions in our country. Finally, I had the opportunity to organize a workshop on combating sexual misconduct in the sciences for the ASM. I was glad to learn that this issue has become a central focus of ASLO recently, and I relished the opportunity to help ASLO deliver a platform for members to learn more and put new skills and knowledge into practice at their own institutions. KMB: I worked on a diversity of projects but the two that stood out the most were writing press releases and articles for the Bulletin, and preparing workshops for the recent Honolulu conference. In particular, being a co-organizer of the Demystifying the Teaching Philosophy Statement and Sharing Science through Storytelling workshops were definite highlights of the internship. Learning how to share information with peers (compared to teaching undergraduates) was very valuable, and giving the workshops and interacting with participants was rewarding. Both types of projects, writing and workshops, allowed me to learn new skills while also figuring out how to apply skills I already had to new situations. As scientists, many of us write and teach a lot, but we do so in very narrowly defined ways. Expanding these skills to other formats has shown me how I could use my skill set in non-traditional careers and has made me think about how I can improve my writing and teaching through traditional channels as well. ED: WHAT DID YOU LEARN ABOUT ASLO DURING YOUR INTERNSHIP? WAS THERE ANYTHING THAT SURPRISED YOU? BV: My internship experience significantly changed my view of ASLO as an organization. Before my internship, I didn't realize how few paid staff ASLO has; it's truly amazing how much they accomplish with this small and extremely dedicated group, together with all of the editors, volunteer committee members, and other supporters who make ASLO hum. It became abundantly clear to me that everyone who devotes time to ASLO's operations, publications, and member services is personally committed to creating a productive and connected community of aquatic scientists. In the area of science policy, I learned that ASLO maintains a strategic alliance with a number of related societies to draft statements and collect information about aquatic science-relevant issues. I also learned a lot about the challenges ASLO faces as a growing, increasingly international, society. Increasing services that specifically support members outside of North America is difficult for an organization with a small core staff, but I hope that this aspect of the organization can blossom with new initiatives led by members themselves with support from ASLO. KMB: Prior to the internship I had no idea how a professional society like ASLO operated. What surprised me the most was just how important volunteers are to the operation of ASLO. While there are a few traditional employees, much of what makes ASLO a great society is dependent on volunteers. It truly is a society for and by aquatic scientists. From the publications to professional development opportunities at the conferences, volunteers touch nearly every ASLO program. The efforts by volunteers are inspirational and have increased my appreciation for the information and opportunities I have received from ASLO and other societies throughout my career. ED: YOU BOTH HAD COMPLETED YOUR PHD JUST PRIOR TO THE INTERNSHIP—DO YOU FEEL THE INTERNSHIP HELPED YOU PREPARE FOR THE NEXT STAGE OF YOUR CAREER? BV: My internship experience has been extremely valuable in pursuing my career goals. This was my first professional experience outside of scientific research, and I am certain that it has significantly improved my potential for finding opportunities outside of academia. Working with Adrienne Sponberg—who knows the ins and outs of ASLO and the convoluted policy factory that is DC—was extremely valuable in showing me what science communication and policy work actually entails and what opportunities exist for scientists interested in engaging in policy. Through planning and researching the science communication workshops, I learned a great deal about effective science communication for public audiences that will be an asset for a career in science policy or advocacy work. KMB: Definitely. I now have a better idea of the range of career possibilities that are available to me as a PhD and, more importantly, I feel more empowered to apply for jobs in science communication. ED: ASLO HAS BEEN SO PLEASED WITH YOUR WORK AND COMMITMENT DURING THE INTERNSHIP. WHAT DID YOU LEARN ABOUT THE ROLE SCIENTISTS PLAY IN COMMUNICATING SCIENCE TO THE PUBLIC AND POLICYMAKERS? WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THIS EXPERIENCE TO YOUR PEERS? AND WHAT IS NEXT FOR YOU? BV: I would absolutely recommend this internship to my peers! Part of what I loved about this internship was that I didn't feel like a tiny cog in a huge machine. ASLO's relatively small size (compared to other science societies that sponsor similar policy/communication experiences) means that you can see a significant impact from your work for other ASLO members. And while each internship has a specific objective based on a particular goal ASLO is pursuing during your tenure, there's considerable flexibility to adapt your work to your specific goals. In my case, science policy and sexual misconduct were not explicit foci of my assignment, but I was interested in working on those topics, so Adrienne supported me in pursuing them. This breadth of experience is serving me well as I look for my next career venture in science policy or advocacy. My work in this internship convinced me that improving how the public and policymakers understand science needs to come from scientists themselves. Not everyone has opportunities to hone their science communication skills through offerings at their institution, so taking advantage of workshops like those offered at ASLO meetings is a great opportunity to practice these skills. Many scientists see communication training as an added burden on top of their research and teaching obligations, and it is. However, investing time and effort in becoming a more effective communicator will pay big dividends for any scientist who wants to make sure their message actually reaches their audience, whether the setting is a classroom lecture, a department seminar, a presentation at an elementary school, or a one-on-one meeting with a legislator. It's pretty clear now that there are far too many issues for which there is a yawning gap between what scientists agree on and what the public and policymakers think science agrees on. I hope ASLO members in particular, who have so much knowledge to share about Earth system processes, ecosystem functions, and human impacts on nature, will redouble their efforts to communicate aquatic science to the public and policymakers at all levels of government. KMB: Thank you! I think at this point all of us are aware of why it is important that scientists engage in science communication. However, a point that came up frequently during my internship but that I think is not discussed enough, is the importance of recognizing and appreciating individual talents. While you may not be comfortable speaking in front of congress, you may have a voice and personality that resonates with children. Science communication will be most effective if we are honest with ourselves about our interests and skill sets, and match these to the correct audience (and collaborators!). I would definitely recommend the internship to my peers, particularly to anyone who has an interest in some aspect of science communication. A unique feature of the ASLO science communication internship is that you can tailor it to match your interests. I am now applying for jobs and the internship has really given me the confidence to apply for positions that I normally would not have considered. My ideal career involves some research and a lot of science communication and public outreach. If you are an employer and have this position open, feel free to contact me! ED: Thank you, Britta and Kylla. Teresa Curto, execdir@aslo.org