Monday, November 5, 2007 - 10:29 AM
25-3

Why is Your Research Important? How to Present Outreach and Extension Communications Resulting from Scientific Activities.

Diana Jerkins, California Polytechnic State University, USDA-CSREES-CPU, 800 9th St. SW Room 2342, Washington, DC 20024

Scientists today are being asked not only to report research results in technical publications, but also to inform the general public about the importance of their research. In a time of limited funding for research, extension, and educational efforts, professionals in these fields need to be able to provide a needs-based and relevancy approach not only to apply for funds, but also to attract support from the public for continuation of their work. Since traditional science education does not generally provide training for this type of communication, scientists need to learn new ways and new language skills for this public discourse.

The Cooperative State Research Education and Extension Service (CSREES) is the primary agency in USDA supporting competitive funding for research, education, and extension activities. Information will be discussed and example provided about (1) Why is it important for researchers, educators, and extension personnel to be able to get their message out in proposal writing and in post-award communications? (2) What are some innovative strategies for delivering their message to the public? (3) What is CSREES doing towards these efforts to tell the story of what is being funded? (4) How do you make the case that agricultural research, education, and extension are relevant to the general public? What is problem based research?


Back to Communicating Science to the Public
Back to Z06 Early Career Member

Back to The ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meetings (November 4-8, 2007)