workshops

Wednesday, August 17 – 11am-12:30pm CDT (Zoom)

Dione Rossiter, Ph.D., Executive Director for Science at Cal, UC Berkeley

The importance of increasing public understanding of scientific issues, like the environment and health, is rising. As a result, scientists are learning the importance of making their work more accessible. But at the same time, there are still marginalized communities that aren’t well served by mainstream science media and traditional educational systems. In addition, women and people of color are faced with long-lived cultural and societal prejudices that perpetuate inequality. By directly involving specific communities in the science communication processes, addressing issues of increasing importance to the communities, and presenting scientific role models and spokespersons from within those communities, we can begin to ensure that science communication and education really are available and accessible to all.

 Dione Rossiter, Ph.D., is a Science Communication, Engagement, Marketing, Education and Outreach Specialist who has previously worked with non-profits, universities, and for-profit businesses to improve their science engagement efforts. She is currently the Executive Director for Science at Cal, a program that shares the excitement and relevance of UC Berkeley research with public audiences by creating opportunities for the UC Berkeley STEM community to engage with the public.

Wednesday, August 17 – 12:45-2:45pm CDT (Zoom)

Dr. Jacqueline Goldstein, Instructional Designer, MIT Communication Lab

Dr. Jacqueline Goldstein is an Instructional Designer with the MIT Communication Lab, where she primarily develops and leads workshops training engineering graduate students in communication and peer-coaching best practices. She is particularly interested in the impact of academic science communication on scientific understanding, collaboration, identity, and equity.

Dr. Goldstein earned her Ph.D. in Astronomy, minoring in Science Communication, at the University of Wisconsin – Madison. She has been a radio host on Madison public radio, has led training workshops with Storyform Science, and is the co-creator of the science communication research blog SciCommBites. She is currently an ARIS (Advancing Research in Society) Fellow working to develop a guide for inclusive broader impacts.

Dr. Goldstein is a queer, first-generation American, originally from San Francisco, California. She is passionate about community and hiking.

Wednesday, August 17 – 1-2:30pm CDT (Zoom)

Disan Davis, RockEDU

Science is an emotional endeavor undertaken by people. Acknowledging the emotions involved in scientific discovery—including wonder, awe, uncertainty, and fear—can help people engage thoughtfully with scientific ideas and information. We believe this approach to science engagement is broadly accessible and perhaps particularly impactful for people from historically and systemically marginalized communities. In this workshop we will define wonder and awe based on current literature and offer strategies for prompting wonder. In small groups, we will explore dimensions of centering wonder and awe in science engagement and apply these frameworks and ideas to your own science communication efforts.

Disan Davis is a scientist and educator striving to share her curiosity and love of science with others. Her experience as a certified middle and high school teacher has provided a foundation in educational theory and philosophy that guides her work in science outreach and informal educational settings. Now as a mom, she is curious about a whole new set of questions about life, development, and learning. At RockEDU, the collective science outreach and engagement efforts out of The Rockefeller University, Disan oversees RockEDU Online, advises on several of the LAB Initiative programs, and coordinates Teacher Professional Development.

Wednesday, August 17 – 3-5pm CDT (Zoom)

Dr. Beth Malow & Steve Saltwick, Braver Angels

Braver Angels is a citizens’ organization uniting red (conservative) and blue (liberal) Americans in a working alliance to depolarize America. This workshop will focus on applying Braver Angels skills to reducing polarization in science communication. Depolarizing Within refers to the critical work we need to do within ourselves, and within our peer groups (in other words, with other science communicators) so that our messages about science can be more credible and effective.

Dr. Beth Malow is a neurologist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, with an interest in applying civil discourse skills to science communication. She develops and moderates workshops for Braver Angels. Steve Saltwick is a Senior Fellow of Braver Angels focusing on key strategic initiatives for advancing its mission. He began his career as a neuroscientist and has academic publications in Science and book chapters in Academic Press.

• Workshop participant guide (PDF)