Association for Behavior Analysis International

Science plays an essential role in our democratic society, and ideally it provides information that shapes policy and decision-making processes of governmental entities and private citizens. However, we observe a rapid proliferation of misinformation generated by dubious entities with ulterior motives, which has eroded trust in science in some segments of the populations. In fact, scientific findings on many pressing societal issues clash with public perception, political agendas, and policy initiatives. As scientists, whether we are researchers or practitioners, our engagement in outreach and public service critically shapes public attitudes toward science, and I believe it is part of our professional obligation that we help to bolster the trust that diverse publics put in science. I will introduce some evidence-based strategies that can be used to navigate difficult conversations around science and misinformation. Participants will learn how to set audience-centered goals to communicate science and use story-telling frameworks to make science more accessible.

Target Audience: Anyone that wishes to improve their ability to talk about science to non-expert audiences.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the webinar, participants will be able to: (1) describe some major pitfalls in communicating science, especially with audiences that may have preconceived notions; (2) set audience-centered goals for science communication; and (3) explore story-telling frameworks to make science more accessible.