The Caltech Y Social Activism Speaker Series presents SPEAKING SCIENCE 2.0: A New Paradigm in Public Engagement CHRIS MOONEY and MATTHEW NISBET Monday, June 23, 2008 7:30 PM Beckman Institute Auditorium, Caltech This event is free and open to the public; no tickets or reservations are required. Speaking Science Boot Camp: Tuesday June 24, 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM Caltech Y $15 on signup includes lunch; SIGN UP starting June 16 priority for Caltech students Boot Camp syllabus

Over the past several years, the seemingly never-ending controversies over evolution, embryonic stem cell research, global climate change, and many other topics have led to a troubling revelation. Scientific knowledge, alone, does not always suffice when it comes to winning political arguments, changing government policies, or influencing public opinion. Put simply, many journalists, policymakers, and citizens consume and act on scientific information in a vastly different way than do the scientists who generate it. As a result, scientists and their organizations repeatedly face difficult challenges in explaining their knowledge to diverse groups of citizens.

As issues at the intersection of science and politics gain more and more attention, something beyond just scientific data--beyond "getting the facts out there"--will be necessary to break through to the public. But what are the new directions? It's time to question some central assumptions and focus on fresh ideas.

A conversation about new directions in science communication.

In this joint presentation, journalist Chris Mooney and communication professor Matthew Nisbet explain how scientists and their allies can "reframe" old debates in new ways, remaining true to the science but taking advantage of a fragmented media environment to connect with a broader American public.

This pair of events features a public lecture on Monday evening, followed by a more detailed, hands-on workshop on Tuesday.

Monday's lecture will serve as an introduction to interactions between science, the media, and the public. Growing out of the evening lecture -- but providing much more in-depth content -- the full-day workshop will provide a hands-on media primer, focusing on two critical issues: 1) how audiences find, understand, and use scientific information; 2) the knowledge and tools that scientists need to deal with the press. In other words, when journalists call you'll know what to do and what to say (and what not to say, too).

Matthew Nisbet, Ph.D., is a professor in the School of Communication at American University. His research tracks scientific and environmental controversies, examining the interactions between experts, journalists, and various segments of the public.

In addition to his research, Nisbet co-authored with Chris Mooney several much-talked-about articles regarding "framing science" in Science, the Sunday Washington Post, and the Columbia Journalism Review.

Chris Mooney is a contributing editor to Science Progress, senior correspondent for The American Prospect magazine and author of two books: the New York Times bestselling The Republican War on Science and Storm World: Hurricanes, Politics, and the Battle Over Global Warming. He also writes "The Intersection" blog with Sheril Kirshenbaum.