Improving Communication of Oil Spill Research

罗得岛大学海洋学研究生院的梅特卡夫海洋环境报告研究所正在实施一个三阶段的研讨会，将汇集科学记者，通信专业人员，非正式的科学教育专业人员，以及正在研究深水地平线石油钻井平台故障及其对墨西哥湾影响的NSF资助（RAPID）研究科学家。在公众关注的这段时间里，这三个阶段将使记者和非正式科学教育工作者能够开展一个反复的能力建设进程，从而获得一系列经验和资源，以提高公众对漏油影响以及评估影响所使用的具体科学技术的认识。该项目的成果还包括通过新媒体和为记者和非正式科学教育工作者量身定制的讲座，加强研究科学家的沟通技能。这三个阶段是：（1）2010年10月环境记者协会会议上的三次会议;（2）2011年4月路易斯安那州州立大学和路易斯安那大学海洋联合会在路易斯安那州共同主办的为期2.5天的研讨会（包括在路易斯安那州立大学研究船上的实地经验）;以及（3）2011年6月为期一周的“科学沉浸式研讨会”（包括在URI研究船上的实验室和实地体验）和梅特卡夫研究所的五个相关公开讲座，包括通过Internet 2进行的网络直播。 这三个项目正在由LSU Manship大众传播学院公共政策研究实验室的教师进行评估。

The Metcalf Institute for Marine & Environmental Reporting at the University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography is implementing a three-stage sequence of workshops that will bring together science journalists, communications professionals, informal science education professionals, and NSF-funded (RAPID) research scientists who are studying the Deepwater Horizon oil rig failure and its impact on the Gulf of Mexico. During this period of focused interest by the public, the three stages will allow for an iterative process of capacity-building by journalists and informal science educators that will result in a set of experiences and resources to improve the public understanding of the oil spill's impacts and the specific scientific techniques used to assess the impacts. The project's outcomes also include strengthening the communication skills of the research scientists via new media and talks tailored to journalists and informal science educators. The three stages are: (1) Three sessions at the October 2010 conference of the Society of Environmental Journalists; (2) an April 2011 2.5-day seminar in Louisiana co-hosted by Louisiana State University and Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium (including field experience on an LSU research vessel); and (3) a June 2011 week-long "science immersion workshop" (including laboratory and field experience on a URI research vessel) and five associated public lectures at the Metcalf Institute, including web cast live via Internet2. The three programs are being evaluated by faculty at the Public Policy Research Lab of LSU Manship School of Mass Communication.