Have you ever done your best to describe a difficult scientific idea to a friend who isn’t a scientist? How crucial and unquestionable scientific ideas are, and how uninformed most people are! If the COVID-19 global epidemic has taught us anything, it is to never undervalue the impact that science has on all aspects of human life. About scientific findings, there is an increasing desire to comprehend and be acknowledged. This article aims to provide non-scientists who are eager to comprehend the fascinating mysteries of science with a list of straightforward but crucial ways to do so. Dr. Mohammed Abbas can help you here with the ideas to be an impressive Science Communicator.
A Science Communicator Is… What do they do?
A person with knowledge of scientific research and Astronomy who wants to communicate scientific information in a way that is clear and understandable is referred to as a science communicator. A science communicator is crucial to making science more accessible. To help non-scientists, understand scientific findings, they use their scientific knowledge and strong communication abilities.
For scientists who are also excellent communicators, teaching assistants, writers of research papers and theses, managers of numerous experiments, analysts of experimental data, proponents of new theories, etc., simplifying science may seem like an enormous task. However, by adopting a few simple strategies, they may be able to streamline their scientific research and inspire science communicators to publicize it around the world.
How to Communicate Science Effectively
Avoid ignoring the issue.
When science communicators begin by explaining everything, they lose their audience. The habit of always starting with the fundamentals is drilled into researchers. But most of the time, all that is required is to identify the issue and offer a solution. Additionally, if this piques the listener’s interest, they will inquire about further details.
Know your target market.
Whom are you attempting to contact? When talking to a news reporter, your strategy will be very different from when talking to a potential funding partner. Never, no matter who the audience is, use jargon. Don’t make it too simple though. Give enough specifics so that your points are memorable and coherent because if you are too general, your audience won’t have anything to hang onto.
Include examples
A concept is better understood when it is supported by an example. Giving examples helps people relate to scientific ideas. For instance, it is not practical to demonstrate how the heart works, but you can ask the audience to take their pulse and use that information to generalize the concept of blood pressure.
Use well-known and popular keywords
Using relevant and well-liked keywords makes the subject matter instantly relatable to the audience. By using well-known and well-liked words, listeners feel more at ease and comprehend the idea more fully. To illustrate environmental issues and sustainability, a science communicator might use terms like global warming, deforestation, biodiversity, loss of glaciers, impact on ecosystems, etc.
Consider the big picture.
Keep your distance from the minute particulars of a research question or the pointless techniques used in a study. What do you hope to achieve by having this conversation? What is one, of the most crucial message you want to get across? Now, as quickly as you can, get to that point. In science, we are taught to provide background information, followed by supporting information, findings, and conclusions. Turn that around when speaking to a non-expert audience: Start with the main point, then say “so what,” and finally give examples to support your claim.
Make the viewers Imagine the ideas
Making your audience see the scientific concepts is the most engaging and difficult way to explain science. Science communicators can increase the level of interaction in their explanation sessions by using teaching tools like infographics, gifs, videos, animations, and PowerPoint presentations. According to Mohammed Abbas, Concept visualization aids in message retention for listeners. For instance, you still remember how biogeochemical cycles were always explained in science textbooks using infographics!
