CSPC 2018

Organized by: Pixels and Plans, Julia Krolik 

Effective and timely science communication is the very vessel that informs decision makers, thereby having a direct effect on the way science policies are generated. Indeed there have been challenges with science communication, as evidenced by the creation of Evidence for Democracy, a not-for-profit organization promoting the transparent use of evidence in government decision-making in Canada. Currently, the landscape of science communication is shifting with many diverse communication avenues becoming more readily available across all sectors including academia, governments and the public. Our panel on Innovating Science Communication consists of a diverse group of panelists that practice different forms of science communication in Canada.
 
The group will discuss five different science communication approaches and the milestones achieved. The panel moderator, Julia Krolik of Pixels and Plans, an agency practicing and teaching the art of good data, will present from-the-field case studies of how fusing data science and creative direction to tackle science communication problems helps organizations reach and engage their intended audiences. Dr. Chantal Barriault, Director of the Science Communication Program at Laurentian University will discuss how the
curriculum has evolved and what a Science Communication degree means for educating and inspiring future generations of communicators and policy makers. Jonathan Provost, an Environmental Scientist at Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada, will cover science communication initiatives in the public sector and the complications of speaking to the general public. Catherine Lau, Program Evaluation Officer at Art the Science, an nonprofit organization that facilitates artist residencies in science laboratories will present recent residency evaluation findings and discuss the value of including art as a science communication platform. Finally, Samantha Yammine, a PhD Candidate in Neuroscience and Stem Cell Biology at the University of Toronto will discuss her successful use of social media platforms to communicate science and engage diverse audiences as well as incorporate social media metrics on Canadian science policy discussions.

Panel attendees will be presented with an overview of novel and traditional approaches to
Science Communication. These methods provide insights to overcoming challenges of communicating science to diverse audiences. Since science communication plays an important role in science policy decision making, the diverse topics covered in this panel are a valuable resource to a Canadian Science Policy audience.