2.7 R&R for science communication – in practice

Comments

• • Johan van de Worp
  • 1682335477

  Here you can read a summary from this workshop (with thanks to the reporter for making it):

  This workshop was built around the performances of two actors. They were asked to play out scenarios given to them by Frank and the participants. The participants even got to participate in the play. Central theme: What do scientists need to be able to communicate meaningfully?

  The first role play was around a scientist who feels that communication is not part of his core responsibilities. Because he also feels that communication is important, this is one of the things he does in the evenings and at weekends. He feels pressure from society that wants to know what the return on investment is of the research that he does. He wants to take responsibility, but he also has other responsibilities outside science (work-life balance).

  The scientist wants to be better at communicating but does not feel supported by the university. No tools, no real help from communication department, not enough time, no appreciation, communication is not expected and considered to be a hobby or free time. Even worse: If you’re good at communication, you’re taken less seriously as a scientist.

  In a next scene a scientist talks with a manager about priorities and time. The scientist is successful in communicating on TV and writing articles for a broad newspaper like NRC. She needs time to prepare for her next ‘performance’.

  The scientist feels outreach is part of her responsibilities, the manager feels only writing scientific articles is really important. All other things are nice but not what is expected from her. The manager says ‘my hands are tied’ referring to rules and decisions made by others.

  The scientist makes it the manager's responsibility to give her the mandate to spend her time the way she wants to spend it. In the role play the responsibility is escalated higher and higher up in the hierarchy up until the rector (the real rector played the role of his life). This was not an ideal situation.

  A department as a whole should be able to decide what they think is important in science (including social impact = science communication) and act accordingly. There has to be a plan including a financial paragraph. Choices have to be made and priorities have to be set in harmony.

  The manager can then reshuffle people, tasks, responsibilities etc. to improve the recognize & reward of the role of science communication in the total package of responsibilities of science and the scientist.

  
• • Claartje Chajes (Communitymanager RRview)
  • 1683547842

  @maschaweijers, @sharonunsworth, @femketrommels, @robspeekenbrink, @petruschkaschaafsma, @jeanettemostert, @arievanderlugt, @yolandakooijmans, @charisma, @fransvanheest, @teatske, @jeroengeurts, @ireneachterbergh, I hope the workshop has motivated you to shape your ideas for local communication challenges. I am curious; how do you think R&R has to be a part of communication departments? And of communication strategies?