There are many resources to help you integrate science communication into your career plans. Here are some books, videos or articles to get you started. Note, many of these focus on oral science communication, especially the use of storytelling.
At the bottom of this webpage is a list of journals that publish science communication articles.
GENERAL SCIENCE COMMUNICATION SKILLS
BOOKS
Presenting Science Concisely. Bruce Kirchoff & Jon Wagner. 2021. A practical look at presenting science through narratives, knowing your audience, various length talks, and posters. Many examples and resources to build on.
Communicating Science: Giving Talks. The Burroughs Wellcome Fund. 2nd edition. Outstanding overview of what science communication is and how to be good at it. Nice list of resources too.
Explaining Research: How to Reach Key Audiences to Advance Your Work. 2nd edition. Dennis Meredith. 2021. A comprehensive communications guidebook for scientists, engineers, and physicians.
Read the AAAS Communication Fundamentals article and make sure to watch the tutorial video by Denise Graveline (near the end!) (12:59 min) Graveline was an advocate for enhancing public speaking skills, particularly for women. (more)
Theory and Best Practices in Science Communication Training. Edited by Todd Newman. 2019. Excellent collection of research on what and how to teach science communication.
Escape from the Ivory Tower. A Guide to Making Your Science Matter. Nancy Baron. 2010. Tried-and-true methods from Nancy and the COMPASS team that will improve your communications skills and make your science matter. Describes the Message Box technique.
Don’t be such a scientist. Talking substance in an age of style. 2nd. edition. Randy Olson. 2018
From Awful to Awesome: 9 Essential Tools for Effective Presentations. Don Franceschi. 2016. A roadmap for effective speaking.
From Awful to Awesome: Speaking Safety Successfully! Don Franceschi. 2023. Excellent summary of how to use communication skills for outstanding talks, especially in training situations.
Made to Stick. Why some ideas survive and others die. Chip and Dan Heath. 2008.
The craft of scientific presentations. Critical steps to succeed and critical errors to avoid. 2nd edition. Michael Alley. 2013.
Resonate. Nancy Duarte. 2010.
Championing science. Communicating your ideas to decision makers. Roger and Amy Aines. 2019. A practical guide to the mechanics of persuasive science communication.
WEBSITES, VIDEOS AND ARTICLES
AAAS Center for Public Engagement with Science & Technology…Communication Toolkit. This Communication Toolkit provides guidance for scientists to build skills to more effectively communicate and engage with public audiences (online, journalists, visuals), including ways to apply the fundamentals of communication to scientific topics.
TED's secret to great public speaking Chris Anderson (TED talk). (7:55)
Life’s Secret – Be Science Literate Frederic Bertley (TEDx talk) (13:16) Why we need to help everyone understand science. Also, an example of an excellent presentation: informative, interesting and even entertaining!
Nature - Collection - Science Communication. Sept 2019. A collection of articles to help scientists communicate science effectively to the public and policymakers.
How To Speak by Patrick Winston (MIT). Great advice on how to talk about science to anyone. Especially note the first 5 min (how to open your talk) and the last 7 min (how to end your talk.) Video (1:04)
Top Tips for Superstar Presentations by Todd Reubold. Design and delivery principles for outstanding presentations. Worth watching several times! Video. (27:40)
Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science. Stony Brook University. Building trust and understanding with your listeners. Look for classes and training opportunities.
Society of Behavioral Medicine - Sci Comm Toolkit
Broad Research Communication Lab - CommKit The CommKit is a collection of guides to successful communication in the biological sciences.
Storytelling
BOOKS