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"Communicating the Science of Climate Change"

John Clemens Public Affairs Officer, USGS Washington Water Science Center Tacoma, WA Prepared for the Climate Science Boot Camp Silver Falls Conference Center, OR August 2014. "Communicating the Science of Climate Change". Education--Journalism and engineering

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"Communicating the Science of Climate Change"

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  1. John ClemensPublic Affairs Officer,USGS Washington Water Science CenterTacoma, WA Prepared for the Climate Science Boot CampSilver Falls Conference Center, ORAugust 2014 "Communicating the Science of Climate Change"

  2. Education--Journalism and engineering Learn about our projects, studies, and activities Write news releases, other materials Prepare scientists for interviews and public meetings Monitor the media on issues of interest to scientists Legislative liaison (WA, Congress) INTRODUCTION

  3. Part of your professional practice Disseminate the information Advance the body of knowledge Provide information needed for policy decisions Aristotle: If you know the correct course, it's your duty to present a convincing case for it. Ethos...Pathos...Logos WHY COMMUNICATE YOUR SCIENCE?

  4. 1. What are the top 2 to 4 messages that you want to be sure to communicate? 2. How do your points affect the public's interest, health, safety, or quality of life? 3. What are some everyday analogies that will help convey your messages? PLANNING YOUR COMMUNICATION

  5. Making Your Point

  6. Desire for the "inside story" Want to get the facts correct Value the search for truth Carefully gather data, retreat to the lab/newsroom, write a report of results, publish (as in, "be the first to") Storyteller SCIENTISTS AND JOURNALISTS: Some shared characteristics

  7. Commonly: Beginning...Middle...End Scientists like the "detective story" format (mimics the scientific process of hypothesis-method-conclusion) Print journalists like the "inverted pyramid" format (from most-important to least-important) Broadcast journalists like to "paint a picture" and use aural structures STORYTELLING

  8. Speak the Language

  9. 1. Lighten up! (Make the connection) 2. No jargon--Keep it simple 3. Friendly, helpful, enthusiastic 4. Stick to what you know 5. Slow down 6. If it's not right, interrupt 7. It's okay to say, "I don't know" 8. If you're through, stop talking 9. Avoid a "yes" or "no" answer 10. In your answers, use "(Your Organization's Name Here)" JOHN'S TOP-TEN TIPS FOR INTERVIEWS

  10. Interview is not Peer Review Get to know your organization's PIO/PAO/PR staff...before you need them Communication is a performance art:Plan, Practice, Possess "The best communication happens on purpose." "Climate change" is an abstraction; try to make it more concrete Never, EVER, lie! (including "spin") JOHN'S SUGGESTIONS TO AUTHORS:

  11. Thanks for your attention!

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