A great post with valuable strategies for improving science communication.
The principle of testing before investing is absolutely critical. At the USDA National Agroforestry Center (https://nac.unl.edu/ ), we prepare mock-ups of our tools and evaluate them with end-users before proceeding. This has been invaluable in developing tools that meet client needs such as:
Repacking science into usable information is essential. Some of the challenges facing science communication include:
Scientific information is widely dispersed and practitioners may not have the time to seek out these scattered resources
Unless a synthesis of the science is completed, practitioners are left with the daunting task of reviewing and assembling the numerous studies into a meaningful whole
With the shift towards managing landscapes for multifunctionality, practitioners need information that covers a broad range of functions.
To manage for multiple functions, practitioners need to understand, use, and communicate scientific information from many ecological, social, and economic disciplines.
We tried to address these challenges by developing the Conservation Buffers guide which synthesized over 1,400 research publications into illustrated design guidelines. Because understanding and use of information is often negatively related to the perceived complexity of the information, we used a variety of science delivery strategies to manage and present the information in a clear and concise format.
I would also like to add an additional strategy which is a follow-up evaluation of tool use by clients.
Too often this is not done and we do not learn what really works and what didn't work. Although we involved clients in the development of the Conservation Buffers guide, we conducted a survey of clients after they had used the guide for a year. We learned some valuable lessons. To complete the circle, we are publishing the results of this survey so others can learn from them as well.
A great post with valuable strategies for improving science communication.
The principle of testing before investing is absolutely critical. At the USDA National Agroforestry Center (https://nac.unl.edu/ ), we prepare mock-ups of our tools and evaluate them with end-users before proceeding. This has been invaluable in developing tools that meet client needs such as:
CanVis: a visual simulation software program for depicting photo-realistic conservation alternatives
https://nac.unl.edu/simulation/products.htm
Conservation Buffers: Design Guidelines for Buffers, Corridors, and Greenways
https://nac.unl.edu/buffers/
Repacking science into usable information is essential. Some of the challenges facing science communication include:
Scientific information is widely dispersed and practitioners may not have the time to seek out these scattered resources
Unless a synthesis of the science is completed, practitioners are left with the daunting task of reviewing and assembling the numerous studies into a meaningful whole
With the shift towards managing landscapes for multifunctionality, practitioners need information that covers a broad range of functions.
To manage for multiple functions, practitioners need to understand, use, and communicate scientific information from many ecological, social, and economic disciplines.
We tried to address these challenges by developing the Conservation Buffers guide which synthesized over 1,400 research publications into illustrated design guidelines. Because understanding and use of information is often negatively related to the perceived complexity of the information, we used a variety of science delivery strategies to manage and present the information in a clear and concise format.
I would also like to add an additional strategy which is a follow-up evaluation of tool use by clients.
Too often this is not done and we do not learn what really works and what didn't work. Although we involved clients in the development of the Conservation Buffers guide, we conducted a survey of clients after they had used the guide for a year. We learned some valuable lessons. To complete the circle, we are publishing the results of this survey so others can learn from them as well.
Cheers,