
How to Communicate Your Science to an Audience that Finds Your Research Controversial
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Rockefeller University - Abby Dining Room, Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Hall
Many scientific issues, such as evolution, global warming, and embryonic stem cell research, are placed in political contexts or framed to support a specific ideology, and have been dubbed by the press as "hot topic" or contentious areas of research. Scientists, whether working in these or related fields, should be aware of how the way these issues are communicated can impact specific perceptions of these research topics, general public support for science, and subsequent policy decisions.
Panelists will discuss their experiences communicating controversial research to the general public, including the challenges they have faced along the way and recommendations for scientists and journalists who are involved in the process.
Panelists include:
Dr. Lee Silver: Professor at Princeton University in the Department of Molecular Biology and the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs. Dr. Lee is the author of "Challenging Nature" and "Remaking Eden" and has appeared on many television programs including "Good Morning America", "Nightline", and the "Stephen Colbert Report".
Dr. Gavin Schmidt: Climatologist and climate modeller at the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) and Adjunct Research Scientist at the Earth Institute at Columbia University. He is also a contributing editor to the website RealClimate.org.
Dr. Wendy Chung: Clinical and molecular geneticist, an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Columbia University and a steering member of the Center for Bioethics at Columbia University. Dr. Chung lectures and writes often on the legal and social issues raised by human genetic testing.