Podcasts: A Revolution in SciComm
Increasingly, scientists are recognizing a heightened need to share their work effectively and engage others through narrative. Podcasts, one of several non-traditional content formats, can offer scientists a platform to build trust and engage others through a conversational, multimedia-friendly format. Thanks to their ease and flexibility, podcasts have exploded in popularity among scientists and others. They offer an interesting, engaging, and audience-friendly way to share science using the power of the human voice in all of its diversity.
During this webinar, the Alda Center spoke with three leading science communication podcast hosts about what goes into building an effective podcast.
Key Takeaways from this Webinar:
- Podcasts are a great communication medium to share information and reach a variety of audiences that you wouldn’t normally connect with.
- Storytelling is not dead. There are millions of people out there who want to hear stories about scientific discovery and learn things they wouldn’t normally learn day today. Podcasts are here to stay.
- As a podcast host, it’s important to make your guests feel comfortable when they speak on your show. Ask them questions about their work and toss in ones about their lives. Showcase the human side of science.
- Don’t be afraid to cold call and network with podcasters already out there. As a scientist, it’s important to tell your story, and working with established podcasters can be extremely beneficial.
“If you aren’t passionate about the story you are telling on a podcast, it shows. Speak about what you love and balance that with what your audience wants to hear. That’s where real magic happens.”- Aly Ward
Speakers:
Alie Ward is a Daytime Emmy Award-winning science correspondent for CBS’s "The Henry Ford's Innovation Nation with Mo Rocca,” and host of “Did I Mention Invention?” on the CW. She hosts "Ologies," a comedic science show named one of Time Magazine’s top 50 podcasts. Alie studied both science & film in college and was a staff writer/editor for the Los Angeles Times and on-air contributor to KTLA.
Anne Chisa, host of the Root of the Science podcast. The Root of the Science Podcasts airs every Monday. This show has interviews with guests involved in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). The purpose of the podcasts is to highlight #AfricansInSTEM across the globe and give them the opportunity to tell their stories in their own voice (literally) about their research or projects.
Oné R. Pagán, Ph.D. is a professor and researcher at Western University in Pennsylvania. Blogger turned podcaster, he is the host of The Bald Scientist blog and podcast. Pagán talks about science, especially to non-scientists, but from time to time he explore topics like how is it like to raise a boy with autism, science fiction, education, etc. He is usually able to give these and other topics a scientific twist.
This webinar was sponsored by The Kavli Foundation and The American Chemical Society.