Achievement

Due in large part to the interdisciplinary nature of their research and the motivation to communicate their work to broader audiences, many of the MESAS IGERT trainees have identified effective communication as a key skill that they want to develop and hone. Dr. Anne Beaudreau, a new MESAS faculty member, developed a course in science communication to address this interest for MESAS and other students. The course covers communication methods and tools appropriate for various audiences. In the spring of 2013, students in the course are giving presentations and holding a panel discussion at the Alaska State Museum, which is open and advertised to the public. Students report an increase in their confidence and comfort in discussing their research under a wide variety of circumstances (e.g., policy meetings, conferences, networking, and impromptu discussions with non-scientists).