A researcher talks to visitors in the marmoset learning lobby (J. Lenon photo).

Communicating your research and animal care to the public

Communicating to the public in a meaningful way can mean presenting a talk or volunteering at an outreach event. It can mean telling a friend about your job and why it matters over coffee. It can mean telling your own personal story about how research helped you or a loved one. Whether shared on line or in person, your stories matter. As long as you listen to people, share your own experiences and encourage respectful dialogue, your message will not be forgotten.

Opportunities to reach people so that they better understand what you do, as well as how and why you do it present themselves all the time.

We’ve batched some of these resources for you here. We hope these events, speakers, articles and stories will help you inspire, educate and connect in a meaningful way with your friends, family, students, funding agencies, governments, businesses, visitors and others about your contributions to advancing human and animal health.

ARTICLES AND PUBLICATIONS

What scientists can do to promote science and explain their work, Feb. 11, 2019

Perspectives and Tools for Communicating Research Results (NIH), Sept. 13, 2018

Animal research website highlight: University of Utah, July 30, 2018

Love animals? Support animal research, Spring 2018

How to explain animal research on your institution’s website, Nov. 14, 2017

Responsible communication of basic biomedical research, Nov. 9, 2017. (See also When is research news?)

New course brings story-telling techniques to science, Oct. 23, 2017

Research institutions have a moral responsibility to defend their research programs and scientists, Sept. 18, 2017

EVENTS

Biomedical Research Awareness Day (BRAD): April 19 every year

USA Science and Engineering Festival Every other year in Washington, D.C.

VIDEOS

Love, Care and Progress: video series from Americans for Medical Progress, 2018

Animals in Biomedical Research: A Vital Scientific Resource, April 6, 2018

Believe me, I’m a scientist | Lawrence Sherman | TEDxPortlandStateUniversity, March 26, 2018