Improving Communication of Oil Spill Research

罗德岛大学海洋学研究生院的梅特卡夫海洋与环境报告研究所正在实施一个分三个阶段的研讨会，该研讨会将把科学记者、通信专业人员、非正式科学教育专业人员和美国国家科学基金会资助的（RAPID）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科学家聚集在一起。在公众关注的这段时间里，这三个阶段将允许记者和非正式科学教育者进行能力建设的迭代过程，从而产生一套经验和资源，以提高公众对石油泄漏的影响和用于评估影响的具体科学技术的理解。该项目的成果还包括通过为记者和非正式科学教育者量身定制的新媒体和讲座加强研究科学家的沟通技巧。这三个阶段是：(1)2010年10月召开的环境记者学会三次会议；(2) 2011年4月在路易斯安那州由路易斯安那州立大学和路易斯安那大学海洋协会共同主办的为期2.5天的研讨会（包括在路易斯安那州立大学研究船上的现场体验）；(3) 2011年6月在梅特卡夫研究所举行为期一周的“科学浸入式研讨会”（包括在URI研究船上的实验室和实地体验）和五场相关的公开讲座，包括通过Internet2进行网络直播。这三个项目正在由路易斯安那州立大学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.