Best Practices for Engaging Science Communication Events

Everyone loves a good story. You should be using your data to tell one every chance you get. The importance of narrative in scientific communication cannot be understated. And that includes communication in traditionally technical environments! One thing that gets beaten into you in graduate school is that a scientific presentation is a technical affair. Communicating science is fact based, it's black and white, here's the data, this is the conclusion, do you have any questions? Actually, I do. Did you think about what story your data could tell before you put your slides together? I know this is a somewhat provocative question because a lot of scientists overlook the importance of telling a story when they present results. But if you want to keep your audience engaged and interested in what you have to say, you should think about your narrative! This is true for a presentation at 'The Mountain Lake Lodge Meeting on Post-Initiation Activities of RNA Polymerases,' the 'ACMG Annual Clinical Genetics Meeting,' or to a class of 16 year old AP Biology Students. The narrative doesn't need to be the same for all of those audiences, BUT IT SHOULD EXIST! There is nothing more frustrating to me than seeing someone give a presentation filled with killer data only to watch them blow it by putting the entire audience to sleep with an arcane technical overview of the scientific method. Please. Tell. A. Story. With. Your. Data. Here's how: 1. Plot - the series of events that drive the story forward to its resolution. What sets the scene, the hypothesis or initial observation? How can the data be arranged to create a beginning, middle, and end? 2. Theme - Good vs Evil, Human vs Virus, Day in the life of a microbe? Have fun with this (even just as a thought experiment) because it makes a big difference. 3. Character development - the team, the protein, gene, or model system 4. Conflict - What were the blockers and obstacles? Needed a new technique? Refuting a previous finding? 5. Climax - the height of the struggle. Use your data to build to a climax. How did one question lead to another and how were any problems overcome? 6. Resolution - What's the final overall conclusion and how was the conflict that was setup in the beginning resolved by what you found? By taking the time to work through what story you can tell, you can engage your entire audience and they'll actually remember what you had to say!

During my many years as a disease detective at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), deploying across the globe to respond to public health emergencies and disasters, I’ve seen a recurring pattern. It’s easy—and common—to assume that those of us arriving from overseas are the “real experts,” while those on the ground are not. This mindset creates a false dichotomy between the “helper” and the “helped.” What we need to realize is this: while we may be scientific experts, they are experts too. Even if they don’t have advanced degrees or technical training, they are experts in their culture, their community, and their context. Effective communication with stakeholders requires both humility (acknowledging our strengths without arrogance) and modesty (acknowledging our limitations). Here are 10 lessons scientists can learn from these mistakes when engaging with stakeholders: 1️⃣ Listen First, Speak Second Before sharing your expertise, take the time to listen. Stakeholders often have invaluable insights that can shape your approach. 2️⃣ Acknowledge Local Expertise Even if you’re the scientific expert, remember that stakeholders are experts in their own right. Whether it’s a community leader or a local health worker, their knowledge of the context is irreplaceable. 3️⃣ Avoid a “Savior Complex” The belief that you’re the only one who can solve the problem is not only arrogant but also counterproductive. Collaboration, not domination, is key. 4️⃣ Be Culturally Sensitive Understanding and respecting cultural nuances is critical. Criticism without understanding can come across as tone-deaf and disrespectful, eroding trust. 5️⃣  Build Bridges, Not Walls Effective communication is about finding common ground. We must strive to connect, not alienate. 6️⃣ Be Transparent About Limitations No one has all the answers. Admitting what you don’t know builds credibility and trust. Stakeholders appreciate honesty over false confidence, worse yet, having the confidence of the competent without the competence. 7️⃣ Tailor Your Message One-size-fits-all communication rarely works. Adapt your message to your audience’s needs, values, and priorities. 8️⃣ Avoid Overpromising Setting unrealistic expectations can lead to disappointment and mistrust. Be clear about what you can and cannot achieve. 9️⃣ Foster Long-Term Relationships Trust is built over time. We can nurture enduring partnerships by showing consistent respect and collaboration. 🔟 Reflect and Adapt After every interaction, ask yourself: Did I truly engage with stakeholders, or did I talk over them? Continuous self-reflection is essential for growth. The Bottom Line Communication is not just about sharing information; it’s about building relationships and trust. The best solutions emerge not from a single expert but from the collective wisdom of many. Please reshare so others may benefit ♻️ #Chisquares #ScienceCommunication #StakeholderEngagement #Leadership #Collaboration

Sitting through another online event, nodding along, but not really feeling engaged? I just experienced this feeling last week in an online webinar. There has been trouble with tech, which consumed a lot of time, there was little interaction with the participants, and the wasn’t quite built for everyone in the room. I left feeling disappointed and unmotivated. I've been moderating events, facilitating workshops, and giving trainings now for over 20 years. In this time, I’ve learned that truly engaging and great events are rare. The good part: it is a skill that people can learn. Three takeaways that I share with folks who are just starting out or for those with more experience who could also need a check-in from time to time are the following: Preparation is key. Always keep the audience in mind. And, offer various ways to learn. Preparation: With the goal and purpose in mind you should design the event. From opening with welcoming, sharing the agenda and rules of engagement to delivering the content to closing with a summary and feedback. Do several dry runs, meaning that you go through your whole program without audience or maybe with colleagues who can give constructive feedback. Also consider which tech will be used and test it before using it. Audience: The event is not for you; it’s for the audience. What do you know about the people who are attending? Do the participants know each other? Which questions could you ask to learn about their expectations, needs, and knowledge? You can do that, i.e,. through polls, surveys, or discussions. Be flexible and don’t be scared to adjust the agenda if needed, and communicate why you are doing what you are doing. There have been so many times that I was a participant and I couldn’t follow the instructions, or I didn’t understand what was asked of me. Learning: People learn differently. By offering various ways to learn, engage, and participate, everyone in the room has a chance to achieve the set objectives. It might be useful to make learning and reflection materials accessible prior to, during, and after the event. Some people prefer working alone while others prefer working in groups. Some need to hear, others need to read content. Don't just think about what you like, but educate yourself about what people with different ways of thinking need. And let me be clear. You'll never please everyone in the room. That’s okay. But by following the above-mentioned tips, you can get pretty close. And remember, there is help out there - hello Ellen and team 👋🏾 What is important to you in virtual spaces? What have been good or bad experiences? Do you need help in creating more engaging and inclusive events? Send me a DM. #Facilitation #Workshops #Training #Virtual #SaferSpaces ALT- Text in the comments.

See One. Do One. Teach One. I was watching Grey’s Anatomy (don't judge) when a line jumped out at me: “See one. Do one. Teach one.” It was Dr. Webber's mantra for medical training: observe a skill, try it yourself, then pass it on. It's also the perfect blueprint for event engagement. Most events get stuck at “see one.” Attendees listen to keynotes, sit through panels, watch demos. They see a lot, but if that’s where it ends, the knowledge fades almost instantly. The next level is “do one.” Give attendees space to try what they’ve learned, through hands-on workshops, scenario labs, role plays, or even a 10-minute exercise in the room. This helps the ideas move from theory into muscle memory. But then there's “teach one.” Create moments for attendees to share their perspective. Whether it’s a micro-discussion at their table, a peer-to-peer breakout, or a post-session “lightning share” where they explain what they learned to someone else. When people teach, they anchor the learning in their own words, and engagement skyrockets. What if designing events around this mantra could transform attendees into contributors? They stop being passive listeners and start being co-creators of the experience. Maybe that's what engagement is meant to be, after all.