Science Communication Education Resources
BOOKS
Teaching Science Students to Communicate: A Practical Guide
Editors: Susan Rowland & Louise Kuchel
This highly-readable book addresses how to teach effective communication in science. The first part of the book provides accessible context and theory about communicating science well, and is written by experts. The second part focuses on the practice of teaching communication in science, with ‘nuts and bolts’ lesson plans direct from the pens of practitioners. The book includes over 50 practice chapters, each focusing on one or more short teaching activities to target a specific aspect of communication, such as writing, speaking and listening. Implementing the activities is made easy with class run sheets, tips and tricks for instructors, signposts to related exercises and theory chapters, and further resources.
Strategic Science Communication: A Guide to Setting the Right Objectives for More Effective Public Engagement
by John C. Besley & Anthony Dudo
In this guidebook, John C. Besley and Anthony Dudo encapsulate their practical expertise in 11 evidence-based principles of strategic science communication. Among other things, science communicators, they argue, should strive to seem competent, warm, honest, and willing to listen. Their work should also convey a desire to make the world a better place. Highlighting time-tested methods for building rapport with an audience through several modes of communication, Besley and Dudo explain how to achieve each strategic objective. All scientific communication is goal-oriented, and Besley and Dudo discuss the importance of recognizing the right goals, then employing strategic and tactical communication in order to achieve them. Finally, they offer specific suggestions for how practitioners can evaluate the effectiveness of their communications (and in fact, build evaluation into their plans from the beginning).
Science Communication for Scientists: Linking Strategy with Creativity, Practice, and Respect
by Laura Lindenfeld, John C. Besley, Xia Zheng, Anthony Dudo, & Todd P. Newman
Grounded in strategic thinking and social science research, this textbook empowers students to confidently navigate skillful and effective science communication. Developed by leading science, health, and risk communication scholars, the book provides a clear, research-informed approach to communicating with audiences across the scientific community and broader society. Readers explore how to put theory into practice through classroom-tested activities, international real-world examples, and thoughtful practice-oriented assignments. These tools help students to create audience-centered communication strategies, build habits of ethical and intentional engagement, and engage with a wide range of audiences, ultimately developing greater alignment between science and society. It prepares students to be more effective communicators and works to define science communication education by integrating practice with evidence and reflection.
RESEARCH
Key Science Communication Research Articles
In the Science Communication Education Research Network (SCERN), we aim to teach our undergraduate students in evidence-based science communication skills and practice. As such, we need to keep up with the evidence in science communication research that informs effective science communication practice! This PDF contains some science communication research syntheses and articles that can be useful in science communication research, practice, and training.