Resources on Engaging Audiences

Sharing Planetary Science: Common Planetary Misconceptions

The Lunar and Planetary Institute’s education and public engagement team is pleased to assist planetary scientists in their communication and public engagement activities. In this professional development session, we will discuss common audience misconceptions and provide strategies for addressing them. Join us on December 7, 2021, at 3:00 p.m. CST. For more information, visit www.lpi.usra.edu/education/scientist-engagement.

ASP2021: Sharing Best Practices in Astronomy Teaching and Public Education

The Astronomical Society of the Pacific (ASP) invites all educators, scientists, science communicators, and public engagement professionals in astronomy and related fields to register for the ASP2021: A Virtual Conference. The conference is an opportunity to learn about best practices in sharing science, innovative ideas and new research findings, and evaluation results from a global community. The meeting will take place November 18–20, 2021. For more information, visit astrosociety.org/get-involved/events/asp2021-a-virtual-conference/conference-overview.html.

Public Engagement Resources for Scientists

The Lunar and Planetary Institute curates a wide variety of education and public engagement resources available for use in classrooms and with broad audiences. Presentations and activities for use by scientists can be found at www.lpi.usra.edu/education/scientist-engagement/tools/. Find activities for informal education programs at www.lpi.usra.edu/education/explore/ and more resources at www.lpi.usra.edu/education/resources/.

Books

Championing Science: Communicating Your Ideas to Decision Makers by Roger D. Aines and Amy L. Aines; University of California Press, 2019.

Getting to the Heart of Science Communication: A Guide to Effective Engagement by Faith Kearns; Island Press, 2021.

 If I Understood You, Would I Have This Look on My Face? My Adventures in the Art and Science of Relating and Communicating by Alan Alda; Random House, 2017.

Articles

Huber, B., Barnidge M., Gil de Zúñiga, H., Liu, J. 2019. Fostering Public Trust in Science: The Role of Social Media. Public Understanding of Science, Vol 28, Issue 7. doi.org/10.1177/0963662519869097

Ophir, Y., Jamieson, K. H. 2021. The effects of media narratives about failures and discoveries in science on beliefs about and support for science. Public Understanding of Science, OnlineFirst. doi.org/10.1177/09636625211012630

Rubenson, D. 2020. Why Your Scientific Presentation Should Not be Adapted from a Journal Article. Nature. doi.org/10.1038/d41586-020-03300-6

Abrahams, M. September 26, 2016. 10 Tips for Giving Effective Virtual Presentations: What to Know Before You Go Live. Stanford Graduate School of Business.

Spotlight on Education highlights events and programs that provide opportunities for planetary scientists to become involved in education and public engagement. If you know of space science educational programs or events that should be included, please contact the Lunar and Planetary Institute's Education Department at [email protected].