CREATIVE EXTERNALITIES
News and Things for April 2019
Curated by Ben Young Landis
- After the Storm: #CWYAscicomm workshop at #NorCalSETAC19 on May 2nd
- Science policy showcase wins Novim award
- Communicators convene in Portland
- Journalists in K-12 classrooms!
- The language of representation
- Upcoming workshops and events
Rare Opportunity to Attend Full-Day Edition of #CWYAscicomm Workshop via NorCal SETAC, May 2nd
The Northern California Chapter of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) will be hosting their annual meeting and trainings this May at the California EPA building, with “After the Storm: Identifying Impacts and Making Discoveries” as the conference theme. Two classes are being offered on Thursday, including a full-day version of our Connecting with Your Audience workshop with media training module. Course registration is open to all — so take advantage of these reduced student and professional rates. See you soon for #CWYAscicomm at #NorCalSETAC19! (Register for Connecting with Your Audience | Explore the NorCal SETAC program)
Science Translators Showcase Concept Honored with 2019 Inspiration Award
The Science Translators Showcase — a program designed and piloted by Ben Young Landis for the California Council on Science and Technology (CCST) — is being honored tonight by the Novim Group as part of their 2019 Alexandra Jane Noble Science Communication Awards. Founded at UC Santa Barbara, the nonprofit Novim Group fosters public-science dialog and recognizes efforts advancing the “epiphany” of sparking scientific interest. A 2019 Science Inspiration Award will be received by CCST senior program associate Brie Lindsey PhD — our amazing friend who has wonderfully taken the reins of the #CCSTShowcase and mentored new cohorts to success. Congratulations, Brie! (Read the honors for Dr. Lindsey | Share the Showcase design history)
#SciTalk19 Conference Cultivates Community
Convening early 400 attendees in the historic Neighbors of the Woodcroft Building in Portland Oregon, Science Talk ’19 found rousing success in its third year of operation. Science communication practitioners — spanning government PIOs, radio and TV journalists, YouTube hosts, high school to PhD students, philanthropy officers, and more — gathered to share ideas and grow their network. Look for a recap of our Finding Your Identity in SciComm workshop on our website soon. (Browse the #SciTalk19 tweets)
Bring a Journalist to Your Classroom!
In the United States, media literacy continues to be a serious problem. Many members of the public do not understand the process, ethics, and mission of journalism, resulting in misunderstanding — or worse, distrust — of the Fourth Estate. A grassroots charitable effort called Journalists in Classrooms is now aiming to turn this tide by bringing working reporters to speak in K-12 classrooms. Created by journalists in California’s Capital Region, this volunteer-run program has already brought speakers to teach high school students about investigative approaches and sources in health care reporting. (Visit their website | Follow JiC on Facebook)
The Language of Representation
When writing about Western history past and present, authors and creatives today have a duty to reframe Eurocentric narratives and acknowledge oppressed and underrepresented perspectives. Recently, a feature story in Science sought to shed light on the complicity of Western natural history in the slave trade. However, the article drew the attention of conservation biologist and National Geographic Fellow Rae Wynn-Grant, who points out a suite of missteps in the tone, approach, and editorial execution of the story. (Read the original article | Read the critique by Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant)
Upcoming Events
May 2nd Workshop: “Connecting with Your Audience: Tools for Effective Science Communication” with Ben Young Landis (28th Annual Meeting of NorCal SETAC, Sacramento, California)
May 15th Lunch Panel: “Science Communication: Tools and Insights for the Environmental Professional” moderated by Ben Young Landis (Association of Environmental Professionals Superior California Chapter, Sacramento, California)
May 20th Workshop: “So You Want to Be a Science Writer: A Tour of Careers and Pathways” with Ben Young Landis (UC Davis FUTURE, Davis, California)
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“Have fun. Do no harm. Leave the world a better place.”
— Ben Young Landis
