You’ve interviewed 700 scientists. Why is good communication so vital?
To excite curiosity more than give definitive answers. You don’t swamp people with jargon or complex processes. Instead, tell them as much as they need to know for the time being.
Why the Flame Challenge – what is it?
The contest helps scientists explain ideas in an engaging way. It’s difficult to explain things to someone who isn’t trained. We want to help them change how they talk about their work.
At what age should we get kids involved in science?
I have 3 daughters and 8 grandchildren. Kids are natural scientists. They explore nature and try to understand it before we formally start teaching them. They’ll care about it as long as they follow their interests into it.
Does this get lost in formal education?
It does. That’s why I believe that the better communicators scientists are, the better our science education will be.
What can universities do to help this?
Have courses in communication in the science curriculum. At Stony Brook University, dozens of graduate students take courses in oral and written communication.