NSF Graduate Institutes for Science Communication and Public Engagement

该项目将解决科学、技术、工程和数学（STEM）专业人员在与普通受众沟通方面的迫切需求。这与美国国家科学基金会机构的优先目标是一致的，即提高STEM研究生为劳动力做好准备。将在两年内举办四个以区域为基础的为期五天的讲习班（GradSciComm研究所）。这些研究所旨在挑战STEM研究生及其教师导师与学术界以外的群体进行清晰有效的沟通。第一个研究所将在北卡罗来纳大学夏洛特分校举行，其他三个研究所将在竞争的基础上授予美国各地的其他机构。每个区域研究所将成为与公众进行更长期和更广泛的STEM交流的起点。在每个为期一周的研究所，STEM博士生和他们的教师导师将参加一系列互动全体会议和小组分组会议。每节课都将建立在以证据为基础的技巧上，以提高口头沟通和演讲技巧。参与者将提高以下技能：(1)吸引不同的观众；(2)识别和应用成功演讲者的特征；(3)使用故事和类比来解释研究成果并阐明不熟悉的概念；(4)围绕核心信息和重要思想组织演讲；(5)设计有影响力的视觉和图形。报告将围绕核心研究信息进行组织。学院后的活动将包括由通信专家主持的教学网络研讨会和由中学生评判的三分钟虚拟论文比赛。每个区域研究所将为赠款两年供资后的持续培训提供基础。

This project will address a compelling need for training of professionals in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in communication with general audiences. It is aligned with the NSF Agency Priority Goal to improve STEM graduate student preparedness for the workforce. Four regionally based five-day workshops (GradSciComm Institutes) will be held over two years. The institutes are intended to challenge STEM graduate students and their faculty mentors to communicate clearly and effectively with constituencies outside of academe. The first institute will be held at University of North Carolina at Charlotte and the other three will be awarded on a competitive basis to other institutions throughout the U.S. Each regional Institute will be a starting point for more permanent and expansive STEM communication with the public.During each week-long Institute, STEM doctoral students and their faculty mentors will participate in a series of interactive plenaries and small group breakout sessions. Each session will build on evidence-based techniques for improving oral communication and presentation skills. Participants will gain improved skills for (1) engaging diverse audiences, (2) identifying and applying traits of successful presenters, (3) using stories and analogies to explain research outcomes and illustrate unfamiliar concepts, (4) organizing presentations around core messages and big ideas, and (5) designing impactful visuals and graphics. Presentations will be organized around core research messages. Post-institute activities will include instructional webinars led by communications experts and a virtual three-minute thesis competition judged by middle school students. Each regional Institute will provide the basis for ongoing training beyond the two-year funding of the grant.