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2018–2019 GSA Science Communication Fellowship Wrap-Up

Through the Lens of a Scientist and Science Translator

GSA has always been my “go-to” Talking with scientists about cool new geology is always a
scientific organization. The mixture of highlight in my science communication work. At the GSA 2018
approachability and scientific rigor has Annual Meeting in Indianapolis, I was able to share my enthusi-
always felt in balance. And to me, the asm for a great interview with six science communication interns.
Annual Meetings are the perfect size— This diverse group included undergraduates to Ph.D. students,
big enough to stretch my scientific incli- all of whom were interested in bolstering their science communi-
nations, yet small enough to comfortably cation chops. Their interests ranged from science policy to pro-
network and socialize with colleagues. files to podcasts, and I appreciated their enthusiasm. It was fun
For years, I attended and presented at to talk shop—both about geology and science communication—
Sarah Derouin meetings as a scientist. Now, with my in the meeting press room. (If you’re interested in being a science
career change to science communication, communication intern at this year’s meeting, you can apply here:
my interactions with GSA have broadened: I look at geoscience http://bit.ly/2wP7HzR.)
research through the lens of a scientist and a science translator. I wasn’t just writing and mentoring during my stint as a fellow;
Considering my appreciation for the Society, I was thrilled to I also got an opportunity to learn about science and public policy.
be the 2018–2019 Science Communication Fellow for GSA. This past spring, I attended Climate Science Day in Washington,
The position allowed me to interview key leaders in the field D.C. Over the two-day event, I learned how to best approach con-
and write about their research, mentor science communication gressional representatives to share climate science information.
interns, and even speak with congressional representatives I spent the first day with other scientists and policy wonks,
during Climate Science Day—quite a list of activities over a learning what approach was most effective during a congressio-
10-month span! nal visit. Clear, approachable, non-jargon language was key, and
One of my tasks as a fellow was writing press releases on I learned the importance of summarizing the main points—
studies published in GSA’s premier journals. Once written, there’s not a lot of time to pontificate in a 20-minute meeting.
these press releases were posted to listservs, social media, and The second day was filled with small group meetings with con-
science news organizations like EurekAlert, where geoscien- gressional staff, where we presented requests, called “asks,” that
tists, journalists, and the geology-curious could read them. could range from offering yourself as an on-call expert to asking
(If you’d like to see press releases on new research, go here: for a town hall in their district to address a climate-related issue.
www.geosociety.org/news.) The main goal of a press release is I learned a lot during my D.C. visit and came back with a
to break down new research into easy-to-understand language new appreciation for science communication and public policy.
while underscoring why the scientist’s findings matter. I hope to continue to build on my experience and participate in
I always made sure to highlight the take-home message for more policy work.
policy makers, the public, and the research community. I may be biased, but I believe that science communication is
The sheer range of topics, geographic locales, and findings more important than ever. Clearly describing new science to a
published in GSA’s journals is astounding; it was often hard to wide audience is essential in advancing science and is crucial to
choose which study I would cover for a press release. Once I creating strong policy and protections.
picked a few favorites, GSA journal editors, GSA communica- Working with Justin Samuel, Christa Stratton, and the staff at
tion staff, and I would narrow down the list to one. Over the past GSA has been wonderful, and I am grateful to have been the
year, I covered topics ranging from New Madrid faulting to Science Communication Fellow this past year. The experience
meteorites in the Atacama Desert. Each study was fascinating, has connected me with a great group of scientists, communica-
and the scientists were a joy to talk with. tors, and policy experts, and has taught me new skills that I will
take with me into my career.

30 GSA Today | August 2019