Championing Science: Communicating Your Ideas to Decision Makers - Softcover

Aines, Roger D.; Aines, Amy L.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0520298098 ISBN 13: 9780520298095

Publisher: University of California Press, 2019

Synopsis

Championing Science is a comprehensive guide that helps scientists persuasively communicate complex scientific ideas to decision makers in industry, government, policy, and education. The book provides real-world tactics for scientists to help build vital communication, influence, and emotional intelligence skills that motivate decision makers, with little to no science background, to understand and support their science.  Through instruction, interviews, and examples, scientists learn why inspiring decision makers to act requires extracting the essence of scientific findings, crafting understandable messages, simplifying visuals, bridging paradigm gaps, and creating compelling narratives. Principles for championing science come to life through stories of science champions such as Robert Millikan, Vannevar Bush, the work between Caltech and MIT on LIGO, and others. With Championing Science,  scientists will effectively learn how to use their communication skills to garner funding, secure future research, and, ultimately, impact policy.

About this title

From the Inside Flap

“Thoughtfully composed, insightful, and supportive, this book appears at a time when it’s simply not enough to communicate science effectively—we have to champion science through purposive, focused communication. The Aineses have laid out a rigorous and engaging pathway for scientists who aspire to get facts across effectively and make their voices heard clearly amid a cacophony of information. Highly recommended reading for everyone who wants to make sure that their messages land soundly and powerfully with important audiences.”—Laura Lindenfeld, Professor and Director, Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science, Stony Brook University

“A wonderfully informative playbook of examples and recommendations for scientists seeking to communicate the content of their research. From the opening warning, that ‘scientists are great communicators—with other scientists,’ to the detailed assessments of how visual and other aids help or hinder the communication process, the authors have built a vitally needed resource to improve the science-society conversation. This conversation is especially needed in a sad era of ‘alternative facts’—an era that the scientific process and the authors reject.”—Daniel Kammen, Professor and Chair, Energy and Resources Group, University of California, Berkeley

“A must-read for those in the research community. Aines and Aines develop smart and clear approaches for scientists to communicate the importance of their work to those responsible for making policy and funding decisions. Their writing hits on what you think you already know and, most important, what you never before considered.”—Felice C. Frankel, MIT research scientist, science photographer, and author of Picturing Science and Engineering

About the Author

Roger D. Aines is the Chief Scientist for the Energy Program at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory where he brings together a global ecosystem of academics, investors, and innovators to develop climate and energy technologies for a more livable planet. He has delivered and endured countless scientific presentations, and his guidance has enabled hundreds of fellow scientists to secure millions in research funding and gain broad support for their ideas.

Amy Aines is the Founder and CEO of Damianakes Communications. She believes that "Words Matter" and has helped hundreds of technical experts get audiences to listen and take action; building support for new ideas. Amy is a messaging strategist, speaker coach and reputation builder. Her work has contributed to the success of a multitude of startups to global giants in biotech, healthcare, telecommunications and technology in the San Francisco Bay Area.  

Edition details

• Publisher: University of California Press
• Publication date: 2019
• ISBN 10: 0520298098
• ISBN 13: 9780520298095
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 272