Science Caf?: Make Dissemination of Science Fun!

 

Kathleen Gifford & Mark Sarvary

Tested Studies in Laboratory Teaching, 2015, Volume 36

Abstract

Scientific communication is a large part of the curriculum of many biology laboratory courses. However, the communication of science does not stop at writing lab reports and scientific papers. More and more inquiry-based labs take students further than hypothesis testing and paper writing, and students and instructors seek new venues to communicate science with a non-scientific audience. A Science caf? (sciencecabaret.org) has been established in Ithaca, NY in 2005, helping both Cornell and Ithaca College scientists disseminate science to the public. This workshop will discuss how to start Science Cafés on- and off-campus, what challenges presenters may face, and what makes a scientific presentation in a science café effective. Instructors can use these ideas to start their off-campus science cafes to bring the community closer to campus, or to start on-campus science cafes giving a forum to the students in the laboratory course to present their scientific discoveries to their peers. Dissemination of science to the public is very challenging to many scientists, so the earlier the students face this task, the better science communicators they will become. Attendees of this workshop will gain from the nearly decade-long experience of the curators, and have hands-on experience of preparing science caf? presentations.

Keywords:  oral presentations

University of Oregon (2014)