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A young participant peers down the microscope at zebrafish larvae at
Science in the News’ Model Organism Zoo at the 2011 Cambridge Science
Festival. The exhibit explores fundamental genetic concepts of genotype
and phenotype with the help of SITN volunteer “zoo handlers” and a
selection of wild-type larvae and mutants with striking visual phenotypes.
find something to catch their interest — and they realize that
they could be doing something like that in just a few more
years,” Scheiner says.
Lecture attendee James Yakura lauds the graduate students’
motivation and enthusiasm: “The lectures are timely
and understandable by anyone who has an interest in the
topic, the instructors are knowledgeable and radiate excitement
for their work, and the times are convenient to those of
us with day jobs.”
Initiative rewarded
SITN offers volunteers autonomy to start new
initiatives with the organization’s support, explains
co-director Slenn, who developed Science by the
Pint, the SITN science café, at which scientists give
brief introductions to their research and answer
attendees’ questions about their work and the life of
a scientist while mingling at a bar.
Middle school biology teacher Mike Hansen says
he attends Science by the Pint to “stay abreast with
what is happening on the front lines of science.”
The events “allow me to be connected with
researchers who I can hold up as exemplars to my
students, as well as providing an excuse for a good
pint or two,” Hansen says. “The information I get
at these get-togethers deepens my knowledge and
provides relevancy to material that is part of my
curriculum — and it’s a fun time.”
Slenn’s interest in reaching out to a broader,
adult audience comes from personal experience.
“I come from a town of blue-collar workers,
teachers and a few businessmen, and I wanted to
share the excitement of science with people who
may not enjoy the lecture format,” she says. “Talking
to the public about my work reminds me of
what excited me in the first place and helps me
focus on big-picture implications of my research.”
Today, 80 graduate students participate in one
or more programs annually. Teigler says the mostcited
reason for participation remains the satisfaction
of applying specialized scientific training to
serve others and give back to the community that
supports the work. “However, SITN volunteers also
gain practical benefits from the focus on high-quality
oral and written science communication,” he
says, “which provides useful training and résumébuilding
opportunities for early-career researchers.”
Recently, in collaboration with Harvard science
faculty members and Nancy Houfek of the
American Repertory Theater, SITN established a
graduate-level short course called Science Presentation as a
Performing Art.
Houfek distills theater techniques that aid effective science
communication in an interactive workshop for faculty and
staff members, postdoctoral researchers and students. Graduate
students who take the course for academic credit have
small-group follow-up sessions with science faculty members
to hone the delivery of their presentations.
September 2011 ASBMB Today 17