
We Don't Need Science Communication (And Other Lies We Tell Ourselves)
by GradFUTURES
East Pyne 010
Princeton, NJ 08544, United States
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Details
Why do scientists need to communicate with the public, and what's the best way to do that?
Drawing from years of scicomm experience, including writing books, hosting TV shows, and even collaborating with modern dancers, Paul Sutter will discuss what "communicating with the public" really means and how public communication can improve careers in academic, lab, and industry settings.
Paul will explore why scientists believe that they don't have the necessary skills, and dissect some common pitfalls and traps scientists fall into. Paul will also show how scientists can transform the skills they already have to become effective public communicators, and provide tips and ideas for communicating effectively in a variety of settings (in person, social, news segments, etc.).
Finally, Paul will demonstrate that engaging with the public is essential for ensuring the long-term vitality of science as an institution.
This talk will be followed by a networking reception. This event is offered through collaboration between GradFUTURES and the Council on Science and Technology.
This event is part of the 2024 GradFUTURES Forum: Building Clarity, Confidence, and Connections, a weeklong professional development conference for graduate students offering opportunities for meaningful professional growth and exploration of futures within and beyond the academy. With many inspiring keynote speakers, interactive workshops, career panels, and networking receptions, the 2024 GradFUTURES is open to the broader graduate community at Princeton and beyond.
Speakers

Paul Sutter
Paul M. Sutter is a Research Professor of Theoretical Cosmology at Stony Brook University’s Institute for Advanced Computational Science and a visiting professor at Barnard College, Columbia University. He received his PhD in Physics as a Department of Energy Computational Science Graduate Fellow at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign before completing post-doctoral fellowships at the Institut d’Astrophysique de Paris and at the Osservatorio Astronomico di Trieste.
Paul also serves on the external advisory council for NASA’s Innovative Advanced Concepts program and as a consultant for the Department of Energy. An award-winning science communicator, Paul has authored three popular science books and has hosted television shows on Discovery, Science Channel, History Channel, and many digital channels.
In addition to writing for Scientific American, Nautilus, Ars Technica, and more, Paul has developed one of the most popular podcasts in the world and is a globally recognized leader in the intersection of art and science, especially in his role as a United States Cultural Ambassador.
His latest book is "Rescuing Science: Restoring Trust in an Age of Doubt."
Hosted By
Co-hosted with: Council on Science and Technology
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