Young Voices of Science
Fall 2020 Program Announcement
– What: FREE science communication training for science scholars!
– Who: Graduate and undergraduate students in environmental fields are eligible to apply
– When: Series of five Zoom workshops held on Thursdays, October 1 through November 5, 6:00 – 7:30 pm ET
– Where: Wherever you are, via Zoom!
– Class size is limited – apply by 5pm ET on September 23
Workshop leaders are experts in public engagement with science, creative writing, storytelling, science-to-policy outreach, and empathy in science communication. Class size is limited to 20 participants; we ask that participants commit to all five trainings and engage in at least one outreach activity, with support from the Hubbard Brook Research Foundation.
The Hubbard Brook Research Foundation is now accepting applications for the first-ever student cohort of the Young Voices of Science Program during the 2020 fall semester. The program is designed to prepare and empower science scholars to share their knowledge, concerns, and hopes for the future and provide a launch pad for public engagement.
Program Overview
Young Voices of Science is a free five-part training program designed to equip undergraduate and graduate students in environmental fields with effective methods for sharing their scientific work with non-technical audiences. Participants will attend a series of virtual workshops and practice sessions, led by expert science communication consultants, to prepare for public outreach, science storytelling, and engaging with policymakers.
To complete the program, participants must commit to attend all five trainings (held Thursdays from 6:00 – 7:30 pm ET) and undertake at least one outreach activity, putting what they learn into practice. Hubbard Brook Research Foundation staff will help to identify and coordinate outreach opportunities. Outreach activities might include, but are not limited to: writing and submitting an op-ed to a local, regional, or national publication; participating in Hubbard Brook’s public science storytelling tradition; conducting an outreach presentation at a local science center, museum, or NGO event; writing a feature for Hubbard Brook’s multimedia blog; or participating in a science briefing for state or federal lawmakers. Participants will receive individualized support from a Hubbard Brook Research Foundation mentor throughout the process of planning and executing their chosen outreach activity.
Each participant will receive a digital portrait made by a student artist, for use in future outreach. By the end of each program series, high-quality training and communication resources will give participants a head-start in public engagement, early in their scientific careers.
Workshop Schedule (note: all workshops will be held via Zoom)
10/1/20: Introduction to the STEM Ambassador Program (https://stemap.org/), with Caitlin Weber and Nalini Nadkarni
10/8/20: Creative Writing and Opinion Pieces, with David George Haskell
10/15/20: The Art of Storytelling, with Ari Daniel
10/29/20: Engaging with Policymakers, with Chanel Matney
11/5/20: Empathy and Science Communication, with Reyhaneh Maktoufi
To apply
To apply for the fall 2020 Young Voices of Science program, please fill out and submit the following Google Form by 5pm ET on September 23. Preference will be given to students who are active at Hubbard Brook and to those who are available to attend all five workshops. Students from underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply.
Application form: https://forms.gle/TvWpmkQSHsBPKCCC8
About the Hubbard Brook Research Foundation
For more than half a century, at New Hampshire’s 8,000-acre Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest, long-term studies of air, water, soils, plants, and animals have led to scientific breakthroughs including the discoveries of acid rain; the effects of lead, salt, and nitrogen pollution in streams and lakes; and the causes and consequences of climate change. Hubbard Brook is among the world’s most influential ecosystem studies, setting the global standard for long-term environmental monitoring.
Established in 1993, the Hubbard Brook Research Foundation (HBRF) delivers cutting-edge science to decision makers on the front lines of environmental change. We bridge the gaps between science and education, public policy, land management, corporate sustainability, and recreation. Our programs include round tables and town hall events, policy-relevant briefings and bulletins, and communication training for students and early-career researchers. Against a backdrop of rapid environmental change, HBRF opens effective channels for action-oriented dialogue between citizens and scientists for smart policy and practice.
Organizers
Anthea Lavallee, HBRF Executive Director
Anthea has more than 20 years of experience as a science educator, communicator, and leader in the non-profit sector. She has served as education director, executive director, and development director across a range of environmental and social service organizations and believes that community, culture, and ecosystem health are deeply entwined. Anthea joined the Hubbard Brook team in 2012 and was appointed to the position of Executive Director of the Hubbard Brook Research Foundation in 2016. Working at the interface of Hubbard Brook science and society, Anthea combines her curiosity about the natural world with her passion for building community. Within Hubbard Brook and across its network of partners, Anthea works to create a culture of environmental awareness that is scholarly and practical, reality-based and creative.
Sarah Garlick, HBRF Director of Science Policy & Outreach
Sarah joined HBRF in 2013 and serves as the Director of Science Policy and Outreach. Her work involves developing and implementing innovative programs for science communication and public engagement. She is the Principal Investigator of HBRF’s National Science Foundation-funded project called “Embedding Public Engagement with Science at Long Term Ecological Research Sites.” Sarah is also a rock climber, geologist, science writer, and author of two books: Flakes, Jugs, and Splitters: A Rock Climber’s Guide to Geology, winner of the 2009 Banff Mountain Book Award, and the National Geographic Pocket Guide to Rocks and Minerals of North America, released in 2014.
Clara Chaisson, HBRF Outreach & Communications Manager
At HBRF, Clara applies her dual passions for science and creative writing across a wide variety of new media projects. She leads Hubbard Brook’s digital media initiative, including Facebook, Twitter, multiple e-newsletters, and the development of dynamic web-based science content. In partnership with Anthea, Clara launched “The Moss,” Hubbard Brook’s annual scientist storytelling event. Clara has a bachelor’s degree in botany from Connecticut College and a master’s degree in science journalism from Boston University. Prior to joining the HBRF team in 2017, Clara worked as a science writer for the Native Plant Trust, the National Audubon Society, and the Natural Resources Defense Council. Fueled by insatiable curiosity about the natural world, Clara believes that compelling stories about science have the power to inspire meaningful societal change.
Young Voices of Science is presented by the Hubbard Brook Research Foundation with support from The Canaday Family Charitable Trust and an anonymous foundation.