We support scientists in improving their communication and outreach.
We offer workshops in communication skills at professional meetings and labs, and assistance in preparing accessible materials for non-scientists. Below you can find examples of some of the work we’ve done.
In May 2022, we led a three-day virtual workshop in climate communication for early career climate scientists working in Department of Energy Labs nationwide. Susan Joy Hassol was master of ceremonies for the workshop and spoke about climate communication and how scientists can craft messages that are both accurate and effective. Among other speakers, Katharine Hayhoe spoke about a climate scientists’ case for hope, Naomi Oreskes spoke of trust in science, and Laura Helmuth spoke about how scientists can work with journalists. Raj Pandya spoke about communicating with diverse communities, and James Cheshire and Andy Berres both spoke about their experience visualizing climate change. Participants practiced crafting messages in hands-on sessions and interacted with speakers and other participants in virtual break-out rooms.
Susan Joy Hassol and Katharine Hayhoe showing climate embroidery from DOE scientist Colleen Iverson, of Oak Ridge National Lab.
Activity: Crafting Messages
Stacy Morford quoting Dr. Fauci for her session on Writing Blogs and Editorials
Director Susan Hassol and Science Advisor Michael Mann conducted a March 2015 workshop at Virginia Tech. A day-long Climate Communication workshop like this one addresses understanding your audience, framing, crafting messages, using social media, giving public talks, and training for media interviews, as well as offering lots of opportunities for practice.
In 2014, 2015, and 2016, Susan was an instructor at communications training events for several Regional Climate Science Centers around the country, including the Northwest Climate Science Center’s Climate Bootcamp and the South Central Climate Science Center’s Early Career Researcher Workshop. Susan also spoke at a workshop for Fellows of the Southeast Climate Science Center and led a media training sponsored by that Center for senior scientists from across the state of North Carolina.
In addition to scientists, in 2015 Susan spoke on climate communication to public health professionals in St. Paul Minnesota for Ramsey County, and in 2016, she delivered a keynote address to transportation professionals in Denver for the Colorado Department of Transportation. She gave another keynote talk at UNC Chapel Hill’s Climate Change Symposium in which she addressed recent advancements in our understanding of the science of climate communication.
In February 2013, Susan went to Washington DC for Climate Science Day on Capitol Hill, where she addressed scientists on communicating climate change to their representatives.
In December 2013, Susan, Science Director Richard Somerville, and photographer James Balog of Chasing Ice conducted a panel on communicating climate change at the fall Meeting of the American Geophysical Union (AGU).
In May 2012, Susan traveled to Woods Hole to work with scientists at the Woods Hole Research Center, Marine Biological Lab, and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute and gave a lecture, led a roundtable with communications staff, and led a workshop on communications. She also gave a talk at the University of Arizona in March 2012, as the plenary speaker for the U of A’s School of Earth and Environmental Sciences’ EarthWeek 2012.
In April 2012, Susan, along with Aaron Huertas of the Union of Concerned Scientists, led a webinar on “Bridging the Gap in Public Understanding of Climate Change: What Can Scientists Do?” to an audience of several hundred scientists nation-wide.
In January 2012, Susan spoke via videoconference to a NOAA workshop in Maryland focusing on science communication. The workshop was conducted by NOAA and the Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve.
Susan and Richard have led several workshops on climate science communication at the annual meeting of AGU — one in December 2011, the other in 2010 (see photo above taken at the 2010 meeting). They also led workshops for the Climate Science Rapid Response Team.
In November 2011, Susan gave an invited seminar at the National Center for Atmospheric Research on “Improving Scientists’ Communication of Climate Change” sponsored by Women Organizing Research and Leading Science.
Susan and Richard led climate communication workshops at NASA Langley in November 2011, and at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in March 2011. Susan and Richard both acted as mentors for early career PhD scientists during the week-long DISCCRS VI Seminar (Dissertations Initiative for the Advancement of Climate Change Research) in October 2011.
By Julie Stuart of Making Ideas Visual (click for larger version)
Susan gave a talk at the 2009 AGU meeting called “Communicating With Congress (and Everyone Else)”. This visual mural was created during her talk by Julie Stuart of Making Ideas Visible. The mural was posted in the lobby of the Moscone Center throughout the AGU conference.
If you are a scientist or an organization that would like assistance, please contact us.
