Chemistry Communication Institute: A Pilot Program; September 2009, Seattle, WA

该试点项目将研究新的战略，以加强化学专业人员与更广泛的受众沟通的准备。总体目标是培养一批化学传播领导者，他们能够：1）帮助化学领域实现文化变革，重视和奖励公众传播; 2）担任化学传播工作的导师和大使;和3）共享模块化化学交流课程/本项目将产生关于加强非正式科学教育工作者准备工作的战略的新知识，特别关注以下核心问题：1）这门课程在多大程度上提高了化学家向更广泛的受众传播他们自己的研究的能力; 2）几天的记者角色扮演经历如何影响化学家为记者提供信息来源的准备; 3）这种准备如何影响化学家对化学公共传播过程的理解和态度;（4）课程如何影响学员在本部门进行沟通工作的想法、态度、计划和行动？这些问题将通过课程前和课程后的写作作业、课程前和课程后的问卷调查、后续调查以及与参与者的电子邮件/电话互动来解决。

This pilot project will investigate new strategies to enhance the preparation of chemistry professionals to communicate with broader audiences. The overall goal is to cultivate a cadre of chemistry communication leaders who can 1) help bring about a cultural change in the field of chemistry to value and reward public communication; 2) serve as mentors and ambassadors for chemistry communication efforts; and 3) share a modular chemistry communication curriculum/resource guide.This project will generate new knowledge about strategies to enhance the preparation of informal science educators with particular attention to the following central questions: 1) to what extent does this course improve chemists' ability to communicate their own research to broader audiences; 2) how does the role-playing experience of being a journalist for a few days affect the preparation of chemists to serve as sources for journalists; 3) how does this preparation affect, if at all, chemists' understanding of and attitudes toward the process of public communication of chemistry; and 4) how does the course affect participants' ideas, attitudes, plans, and actions with respect to undertaking communication efforts in their home departments? These questions will be addressed by means of pre- and post-course writing assignments, pre- and post-questionnaires, and follow-up surveys and email/phone interaction with participants.