Dear Colleagues,
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln is hosting SciComm, a conference dedicated to understanding and promoting effective communication of science to diverse audiences – including students of all levels as well as the general public – across all venues. The conference will take place from March 23 – 25, 2018 on the University of Nebraska campus in Lincoln, Nebraska.
The conference has six key areas of focus:
- Informal STEM Learning: Engaging students and the general public through informal activities conducted outside of the classroom.
- Science Communication Research: Discovering the best methods to ensure that your audience engages with and retains scientific communications.
- K-12 STEM: Supporting the effective dissemination of scientific information and investigative skills in K-12 classrooms.
- Disciplinary-Based Education Research: Facilitating student comprehension and retention of scientific concepts.
- Science and Media: Enabling collaboration between scientists and science communicators in today's dynamic media environment.
- Broader Impacts: Helping scientists determine the best way to expand the reach of their work.
The event will feature numerous activities:
Friday, March 23rd
- Professional Development Workshops: AAAS, Portal to the Public (PopNet), Improv for Scientists (Friends of Joe's Big Idea) and Summing-up Your Science in 90 Seconds
- Student Lightning Talk competition on the following topics: climate change, vaccines, evolution. NPR's Joe Palca and Maddie Sofia will judge and participate in feedback and discussion following talks.
- Evening Film Festival
Saturday, March 24th
- Keynote address by Dr. Jacqueline Gill from the Climate Change Institute. Dr. Gill applies an interdisciplinary approach combining paleoenvironmental reconstructions from lake sediments, modern field ecology, and modeling. She is also the co-host of the Warm Regards Podcast.
- Morning of talks on topics encompassing Informal STEM Learning, Science Communication Research, K-12 STEM, Disciplinary-Based Education Research (DBER), Science and Media and Broader Impacts.
- A special question and answer panel with local NPR and NET staff on the theme CRISPR and the News.
- A Community Science Festival - an opportunity to engage the public (or yourself) in hands-on science activities.
Sunday, March 25th
- Keynote address by NPR's Joe Palca, NPR Science Contributor, founder of Joe's Big Idea, and former president of the National Association of Science Writers.
- Morning of talks on topics encompassing Informal STEM Learning, Science Communication Research, K-12 STEM, Disciplinary-Based Education Research (DBER), Science and Media and Broader Impacts.
Registration includes your choice of two workshops on Friday the 23rd and two full days of talks and activities on the 24th and 25th.If you are interested in participating in the workshop, you may complete registration at the following link: http://nescicomm.com/registration/. The cost to attend is as follows:
- Regular Admission – $130
- Students/K-12 Teachers – $40
Please forward this blog announcement to any colleagues and K-12 teachers who may have interest.
Thank you.
Kathleen Nolan, Director, ANR Office of Contracts & Grants (OCG)