April 1st, 2019 | RESEARCH
Scientists are increasingly motivated to engage the public, particularly those who do not or cannot access traditional science education opportunities. Communication researchers have identified shortcomings of the deficit model approach, which assumes that skepticism toward science is based on a lack of information or scientific literacy, and encourage scientists to facilitate open-minded exchange with the public. We describe an ambassador approach, to develop a scientist's impact identity, which integrates his or her research, personal interests and experiences to achieve societal impacts. The scientist identifies a community or focal group to engage, on the basis of his or her impact identity, learns about that group, and promotes inclusion of all group members by engaging in venues in which that group naturally gathers, rather than in traditional education settings. Focal group members stated that scientists communicated effectively and were responsive to participant questions and ideas. Scientists reported professional and personal benefits from this approach.
Document
(no document provided)
Team Members
Nalini Nadkarni, Author, University of UtahCaitlin Weber, Author, University of Utah
Shelley Goldman, Author, Stanford University
Dennis Schatz, Author, Pacific Science Center
Sue Allen, Author, Maine Mathematics and Science Alliance
Rebecca Menlove, Author, Natural History Museum of Utah
Citation
Identifier Type: DOI
Identifier: 10.1093/biosci/biz018
Identifier Type: ISSN
Identifier: 1525-3244
Publication: BioScience
Volume: 69
Number: 4
Page(s): 305–313
Funders
Funding Source: NSF
Funding Program: AISL
Award Number: 1514494
Related URLs
Full Text
The STEM Ambassador Program: A Scientist-Driven Public Engagement Model
Tags
Audience: General Public | Museum | ISE Professionals | Scientists
Discipline: Ecology | forestry | agriculture | General STEM | Life science
Resource Type: Peer-reviewed article | Research Products
Environment Type: Community Outreach Programs | Professional Development | Conferences | Networks | Professional Development and Workshops | Public Programs