Standing Committee on Advancing Science Communication

Webcast

Building Institutional Capacity for Public Engagement with Science

August 28, 2025

2:00 PM - 3:30 PM (ET)

Past

Agenda

Download the Agenda

Materials

2 - Speaker Bios - Building Institutional Capacity for Public Engagement with Science
3 - Presentation Slides on Insights from Building Instititutional Capacity for Engaged Research

About

Public research universities and institutions have been innovating to expand their engagement with the public and support collaborations across research, government, community, and industry. This session will provide evidence and examples of approaches for capacity-building efforts to support public engagement with science. Discussion will explore ideas for how to use existing resources inside and outside of research institutions to build the capacity to listen, be responsive, communicate, and collaborate with public audiences throughout the research life cycle. Panelists will also discuss approaches for measuring and sharing the impacts of research.

Panelists:

Liz Crocker, Thriving Earth Exchange, American Geophysical Union
Erica Kimmerling, Association for Science and Technology Centers
Todd Newman, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Susan D. Renoe, University of Missouri
Byron P. White, SOVA Solutions

Moderator: Elyse Aurbach, Michigan State University (Committee Member)

Contact

Lauren Ryan

(202) 334-2065
LRyan@nas.edu

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

Meeting Closed

Standing Committee on Advancing Science Communication, Meeting 18

August 28 - 29, 2025

Past

About

Members of the Standing Committee on Advancing Science Communication will meet over two days in closed session to onboard new members and continue planning future work and priotizing goals to advance their mission.

Contact

Holly Rhodes

(202) 334-3454
hrhodes@nas.edu

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

Webinar

Perspectives on Communicating Evolving Health and Science Information

October 9, 2024

10:00 AM - 11:15 AM (ET)

Past

Discussion

This discussion information is being collected via Slido. Slido is not affiliated in any way with, or endorsed by, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, and your submission via the Slido website is subject to Slido’s privacy and terms of use.

Agenda

Download the Agenda

Materials

Speaker Bios - Perspectives on Communicating Evolving Health and Science Information

About

Effectively communicating about health and science with lay audiences as evidence evolves, conflicts, or is corrected is challenging. During this webinar, hosted by the Standing Committee on Advancing Science Communication, panelists will discuss the nature of these challenges and their perspectives on equipping people to understand the nature of science and how it evolves. They will offer evidence-based insights into how media outlets portray change and conflicting evidence in science and how this affects people’s perceptions of science. Finally, discussion will explore implications for improving science communication.

Moderator:

Brian Southwell, Distinguished Fellow and Lead Scientist for Public Understanding of Science at RTI International and Member of the Standing Committee on Advancing Science Communication

Panelists:

Sibel Erduran, Professor of Science Education and Director for Research, University of Oxford

Rebekah Nagler, Associate Professor, Hubbard School of Journalism & Mass Communication, University of Minnesota

Ivan Oransky, Distinguished Journalist in Residence, New York University's Arthur Carter Journalism Institute; Co-Founder, Retraction Watch

Contact

Brittani Shorter

(202) 334-3454
bshorter@nas.edu

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

Meeting Closed

Standing Committee on Advancing Science Communication, Meeting 16

October 9 - 10, 2024

Past

About

This is the 16th meeting of the Standing Committee on Advancing Science Communication.

Contact

Brittani Shorter

(202) 334-3454
bshorter@nas.edu

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

Trust in Science: Understanding the Trends and Implications for Science Communication

May 30, 2024

2:00 PM - 3:30 PM (ET)

Past

Discussion

This discussion information is being collected via Slido. Slido is not affiliated in any way with, or endorsed by, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, and your submission via the Slido website is subject to Slido’s privacy and terms of use.

Materials

About

Recent survey data show declines in trust in science that mirror earlier trends for other institutions, including journalism and government. New research is shedding additional light on those patterns and illuminating some of the mechanisms that underlie the aggregated trends. In this webinar, researchers consider the differences between credibility, confidence, and trust; describe new empirical findings; and discuss the implications for how to communicate science in a complex information landscape.

Moderator: Mariette DiChristina, Boston University

Panelists:

Katherine Ognyanova, Rutgers University

Arthur Lupia, University of Michigan

Liz Hamel, KFF

Contact

Brittani Shorter

(202) 334-3454
bshorter@nas.edu

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

Closed

Standing Committee on Advancing Science Communication, Meeting 15 - Virtual

May 30 - 31, 2024

Past

About

This is the 15th meeting of the committee on Advancing Science Communication.

Contact

Brittani Shorter

(202) 334-3454
bshorter@nas.edu

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

Standing Committee on Advancing Science Communication, Meeting 14 - OPEN SESSION

March 14, 2024

1:00 PM - 2:30 PM (ET)

Past

Agenda

Download the Agenda

About

The Standing Committee on Advancing Science Communication will discuss opportunities to advance capacity for effective public engagement with science.

Contact

Brittani Shorter

(202) 334-3454
bshorter@nas.edu

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

Closed

Standing Committee on Advancing Science Communication, Meeting 14

March 14 - 15, 2024

Past

About

The Standing Committee on Advancing Science Communication will orient new members, review the progress of Standing Committee activities and priorities, and identify next steps for future work.

Contact

Brittani Shorter

(202) 334-3454
bshorter@nas.edu

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

Webinar

Generative AI and the Implications for Science Communication

November 7, 2023

3:00 PM - 4:30 PM (ET)

Past

Discussion

This discussion information is being collected via Slido. Slido is not affiliated in any way with, or endorsed by, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, and your submission via the Slido website is subject to Slido’s privacy and terms of use.

Materials

Speaker Bios - Generative AI and the Implications for Science Communication

About

New innovations in large language modeling and other generative artificial intelligence tools, such as ChatGPT, have spurred debate about their capacities, risks, and broader societal implications. The Standing Committee on Advancing Science Communication is hosting a public webinar to 1) explore what these technologies are, how they work, and how they may change the information landscape going forward; 2) consider positive innovations they could facilitate in science communication; and 3) discuss systemic limitations and risks, as well as the broad ethical and social implications of these technologies.

Moderator:
Sandra González-Bailón, Standing Committee Member and Carolyn Marvin Professor of Communication, Annenberg School for Communication, University of Pennsylvania

Panelists:

Melanie Mitchell, Professor, Santa Fe Institute
Sendhil Mullainathan, Roman Family University Professor of Computation and Behavioral Science at Chicago Booth School of Business, University of Chicago
Chirag Shah, Professor, Information School, University of Washington – Seattle
Sophie Bushwick, Technology Editor, Scientific American

Contact

Lucy Oliveros

(202) 334-1916
LOliveros@nas.edu

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

Webinar

Exploring Principles and Practices for Ethical Science Communication within Community Engagement (VIRTUAL)

October 17, 2023

11:00 AM - 12:45 PM (ET)

Past

Agenda

Download the Agenda

Materials

Speaker Bios

About

Community engagement is an important context for effectively communicating about health and science. The Standing Committee on Advancing Science Communication is hosting a public webinar to share insights from research, practice, and community experts on principles and practices for ethical science communication when engaging communities. Featured discussions will address:

What are principles and core elements of ethical and effective science communication and engagement in the context of community engagement?
What are the broader contexts and factors that shape community-engaged science communication?
What do we mean by trust and trustworthiness, and what are practices for earning trust and ensuring mutual benefit?
What are important ethical issues to consider in this work?

The webinar will also include a time of audience Q&A.

Confirmed Panelists:

Holley Wilkin, Georgia State University
Julie Lucero, University of Utah
Gary Ferguson, Washington State University
Bobby Wilson, Metro Atlanta Urban Farm

Contact

Brittani Shorter

(202) 334-3454
bshorter@nas.edu

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

Closed

Standing Committee on Advancing Science Communication, Meeting 11 - Day 2

December 2, 2022

9:00 AM - 1:00 PM (ET)

Past

About

The Standing Committee on Advancing Science Communication hosted a hybrid closed meeting on December 1 & 2. At this meeting, the committee oriented new members, reviewed the progress of Standing Committee activities and priorities, and identified next steps for future work.

Contact

Brittani Shorter

(202) 334-3454
bshorter@nas.edu

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

Meeting Closed

Standing Committee on Advancing Science Communication, Meeting 11 - Day 1

December 1, 2022

9:00 AM - 5:00 PM (ET)

Past

About

The Standing Committee on Advancing Science Communication hosted a hybrid closed meeting on December 1 & 2. At this meeting, the committee oriented new members, reviewed the progress of Standing Committee activities and priorities, and identified next steps for future work.

Contact

Brittani Shorter

(202) 334-3454
bshorter@nas.edu

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

Day 3 - Reimagining Science Communication in the COVID Era and Beyond: The 5th National Academies Science Communication Colloquium

June 6, 2022

12:30 PM - 5:20 PM (ET)

Past

Agenda

Download the Agenda

About

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine is hosting a hybrid colloquium in Spring 2022 that will focus on how to build a more effective and equitable science communication ecosystem, advance the use of evidence-based practices, and determine the next steps for the science of science communication and engagement. The 2022 colloquium will bring together researchers and practitioners in science communication along with community members and leaders to illuminate the challenges of communicating science to a broad range of communities, particularly in times of crisis.

Day 3 of the colloquium will be hosted in-person at the Beckman Center of the National Academies in Irvine, CA. Participants will also have the option to attend virtually.

Organizing Project

Reimagining Science Communication in the COVID Era and Beyond: The 5th National Academies Science Communication Colloquium

Contact

Lauren Ryan

(202) 334-2065
LRyan@nas.edu

Location

Arnold and Mabel Beckman Center

100 Academy Way

Irvine CA 92617, USA

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

Day 2 - Reimagining Science Communication in the COVID Era and Beyond: The 5th National Academies Science Communication Colloquium

June 2, 2022

11:00 AM - 4:15 PM (ET)

Past

Agenda

Download the Agenda

About

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine is hosting a hybrid colloquium in Spring 2022 that will focus on how to build a more effective and equitable science communication ecosystem, advance the use of evidence-based practices, and determine the next steps for the science of science communication and engagement. The 2022 colloquium will bring together researchers and practitioners in science communication along with community members and leaders to illuminate the challenges of communicating science to a broad range of communities, particularly in times of crisis.

Day 2 of the colloquium will be hosted virtually.

Organizing Project

Reimagining Science Communication in the COVID Era and Beyond: The 5th National Academies Science Communication Colloquium

Contact

Lauren Ryan

(202) 334-2065
lryan@nas.edu

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

Day 1 - Reimagining Science Communication in the COVID Era and Beyond: The 5th National Academies Science Communication Colloquium

June 1, 2022

9:00 AM - 7:15 PM (ET)

Past

Agenda

Download the Agenda

About

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine is hosting a hybrid colloquium in Spring 2022 that will focus on how to build a more effective and equitable science communication ecosystem, advance the use of evidence-based practices, and determine the next steps for the science of science communication and engagement. The 2022 colloquium will bring together researchers and practitioners in science communication along with community members and leaders to illuminate the challenges of communicating science to a broad range of communities, particularly in times of crisis.

Day 1 of the colloquium will be hosted in-person at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, D.C. Participants will also have the option to attend virtually.

Organizing Project

Reimagining Science Communication in the COVID Era and Beyond: The 5th National Academies Science Communication Colloquium

Contact

Lauren Ryan

(202) 334-2065
lryan@nas.edu

Location

National Academy of Sciences Building

2101 Constitution Ave NW

Washington DC 20418, USA

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

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Standing Committee on Advancing Science Communication

Building Institutional Capacity for Public Engagement with Science