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Communicating Science: Writing for Technical and Lay Audiences. Chairpersons: Julie Kimbell, CIIT at The Hamner Institutes for Health Sciences Claude McGowan, Johnson & Johnson March 27, 2007. Introduction. Toxicology research results can have high impact Scientists Regulators
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Communicating Science:Writing for Technical and Lay Audiences Chairpersons: Julie Kimbell, CIIT at The Hamner Institutes for Health Sciences Claude McGowan, Johnson & Johnson March 27, 2007
Introduction • Toxicology research results can have high impact • Scientists • Regulators • General public • Written communication is critical • Papers, grant proposals, reviews, press releases, web sites, prospectus blurbs, package inserts… • Keys to success for written communication include: • Writing style • Publication • Clarity, no matter what audience is targeted • Audiences issues… • For journalists and lay audiences: Jargon • For scientists: Misunderstanding or misinterpretation
Local Newspaper Headline “Researchers seek cancer answers up rodent's nose” “Formaldehyde trail through nose could yield breakthrough in institute's war on cancer ”
Session Participants • Claude McGowan, Co-chair • Michael Alley (Penn State Univ.), author • Essentials of Style in Scientific Writing • Jim Kehrer (Washington State Univ.), editor • The Ins and Outs of Publishing and Reviewing Manuscripts • Helen Chickering (NBC News Channel), medical reporter • Communicating Science to the Public • Cyndy Yu-Robinson (U.S. EPA), public affairs specialist • Challenges in Communicating Science from the EPA • Discussion moderator
Session Structure • Introduction 5 mins (1:30-1:35) • Michael Alley 25 mins (1:35-2:00) • Jim Kehrer 25 mins (2:00-2:25) • BREAK 10 mins (2:25-2:35) • Helen Chickering 25 mins (2:35-3:00) • Cyndy Yu-Robinson 15 mins (3:00-3:15) • Discussion intro 5 mins (3:15-3:20) • Discussion 55 mins (3:20-4:15) Please hold questions for each speaker until the Discussion period, if possible!
Discussion • How do we translate scientific jargon so non-professionals can appreciate results? • Why should non-professionals should care about the latest advances in toxicology? • How can toxicologists clarify messages for the larger public?