Category: The Public
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The “Last Starfighter” Model for Citizen Science
This article was first published in Scientific American. Alex Rogan masters a video game called “Starfighter” where he defends “the Frontier” from “Xur and the Ko-Dan Armada” in a space battle. Soon after he becomes the world’s highest scoring player, the teenager meets an alien who informs him that the battle is real! The video…
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Cool Worlds: Birth of a Science Vlog
Just as the pundits predicted, video is taking over the internet. Youtube has now become the second most popular site on the internet, beating out Facebook. And with the rise of video, science video blogs (vlogs) are taking off everywhere. There are the big budget science vlogs by TED and Google, and popular lone wolf…
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Bringing the Media to You: A Marketing Tip from the National Speakers Association Meeting
This week I’m writing to you from the National Speakers Association annual meeting, a great place to learn new marketing tricks. I’m going to share with you a tip I just learned from journalist Geeta Nadkarni. It’s an idea that sounds simple and obvious–and I bet you haven’t tried it yet. First, let me introduce…
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I Learned Marketing From My Toddler
I became a father two years ago last month. In those two years I blogged a little less often and gave few workshops than I would have otherwise. But I kept learning valuable lessons about marketing and communicating science—from life with my toddler. Here are a few of the priceless lessons he has taught me.…
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The Top Five Science Marketing Hits of 2013
Twenty thirteen was another topsy-turvy year for scientists in the U.S. Many of us spent a good part of the year dealing with budgets slashed by sequestration. Government scientists, including last year’s Nobel laureates, spent October 1-16 on furlough. This year’s Nobel laureates were overheard telling their students that they would have better luck building…
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What Should We Wear? Advice from Scientists about Clothing and Fashion
Studies show that how we dress generally affects what people think of our personalities and capabilities. For example, women are more likely to be hired if they wear more masculine clothes to an interview (such as a dress suit). People who wear conservative clothes are seen as self-controlled and reliable, while those who wear more daring clothing…
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Interview with Image Consultant Kasey Smith: Part 2
How is a scientist supposed to dress? I posed this question in an interview with professional image consultant Kasey Smith. My last post contained the first half of our interview, where Kasey introduced herself and explained what image consultants are, and why scientists need them. Here, in the second half of the interview, are some of Kasey’s…
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The Top Six Science Marketing Hits of 2012
(This article was originally published in Nature.) Scientists, I imagine you’re cuddled up with your loved ones, recounting your favorite moments of the year. To amplify your joy, let me share with you this list of my six top science marketing successes of 2012, compiled with help from the Marketing for Scientists Facebook group. It…
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We Are All Politicians Now: Science Communication and the Romney 47% Video
(This article was first published in Scientific American.) This week, presidential candidate Mitt Romney got into hot water after made some remarks at a fundraiser attended by the wealthy that seemed to denigrate middle-class and poor Americans. Similarly, last week, Bill Nye released a frank video denouncing creationism that sent some religious viewers into a…