Communicating Science Message Box Exercise Biology Theme/Concept/Idea 2.What is the issue/question? 3.Who cares? 4.What were your main findings? 5.Why are your results interesting?

Communicating Science Message Triangle Exercise From the NSF “Becoming the Messenger Workshop” Biology 321 First assess your audience by answering the following: My audience is (there is no such thing as a general audience): My message is targeted to this type of person in the audience (describe as though you are addressing one person): Relative to what I’m talking about, he/she currently knows, believes, or does: This makes him/her more likely to be supportive or resistant to my message: My target audience will respond most favorably if I make my points in the context of (e.g. politics, science, economics, business, personal involvement, etc.): Relative to what I’m talking about, I want her/him to know, believe or do: Three things my audience should know (or three questions they might ask) about my subject are: a) b) c) Arguments and evidence that support my assertions/answers: a) b) c)

With the audience in mind, consolidate your message into a message triangle by: Placing the key idea you want the audience to take away in the center of the triangle. Situating 3 questions you believe your audience will have at the 3 corners of the triangle. Developing answers to the questions and support for you answers in the form of factual evidence, assertions, anecdotes, and 3 rd party assertions. Main Message Talking Point 1 Supporting Evidence Talking Point 2 Supporting Evidence Talking Point 3 Supporting Evidence

NSF funded research is an innovation engine that helps drive the U.S. economy Depth NSF funds nearly two-thirds of all non-life sciences basic research at universities in the U.S. Breadth NSF is the only federal agency that funds all scientific disciplines Innovation If history is any guide, most of tomorrow’s economy is being born today in university research labs.