Thread by @KA_Nicholas

"Talking about #Climate in a Rapidly Changing World"
Fabulous @DrKateMarvel keynote on writing for the public (even if it might hurt your academic career), an Up Goer Five abstract, diversity, poetry & more. THREAD of highlights:

(Env. Research 2021 conference, @IOPPublishing)

Climate discussion in the US has (too) long focused on denial-- not "believing" scientific facts. But we don't just face denial, but also apathy and misunderstanding and helplessness and despair. More data, reports, powerpoints does not change people's minds, says @DrKateMarvel

Some real talk -- climate scientists like @DrKateMarvel face harassment and name calling for clearly communicating science. #scicomm won't help and might hurt your academic career. BUT-- the world needs scientists speaking out, and we should do it anyway. 3/

We need a diverse climate stories, messages, and messengers! To reach @WSJ readers, that's business leaders. And the lack of diversity in science is "not just a problem but an existential threat, we're not asking the right questions and seeking the world's talent" @DrKateMarvel

Scientists, ready to write for the public?

@DrKateMarvel has excellent advice:

READ-- both fiction (expand horizons, power of storytelling) and nonfiction.

WRITE! You can't write without writing. "Keep typing until it turns into writing" (David Carr)

Great writing advice from @DrKateMarvel - "get uncomfortable." Try new forms of writing, like turning a scientific abstract into a simple #UpGoerFive story, or even poetry (not shown by request, but it was excellent and made me LOL).

Scientists writing for the public: remember, you're competing for your reader's attention against EVERY other distraction on Earth. The 1st para is make or break to hook them. Learn from how journalists turn science into a gripping story, like @blkahn @EARTH3R says @DrKateMarvel

Scientists: understand how journalists work, 2-way street, respect their expertise, and go where they are-- which is far too often right here:
"I now don't spend much time on Twitter, but you know who does, more than is good for them: Journalists." -@DrKateMarvel #scicomm

Scientists, if you want to write directly for the public like @DrKateMarvel, you can pitch your own writing to editors. theopennotebook.com has examples of successful pitches. Make sure it covers why this story needs to be written, for this publication, by you.

"There's so much demand for climate knowledge from media, private sector, govts... & so much supply from younger generations ready to speak out. Universities are the bottleneck, which is very silly; they're hard to change, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't try." @DrKateMarvel 👏