Science Influencers

Preparing students for effective science communication.

Microscope for research on a blue background

Background

The Leaky Pipeline

The Science Influencers program is driven by a need to repair the leaky pipeline in science communication.

  • Lack of formal science communication programming (Brownell et al., 2013)
  • Minimal transparency between scientists and the public (Lyon, 2016)
  • Lack of communications skills training, including but not limited to oral, written and visual dissemination (Brownell et al., 2013)
  • Inappropriate selection of communications channels and poor message framing (Nisbet & Sheufele, 2009)
  • Limited content knowledge in STEM and related disciplines (Broome & Goldman, 2014)
  • Public trust in science has plateaued (Nisbet & Markowitz, 2016)

The Science Influencers Model

Through the Science Influencers program, students will gain STEM knowledge and professional communications experience. The Science Influencers program integrates research, education, and extension (REE) experiences for undergraduates to become effective, influential communicators of science in the public domain. Students with STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) knowledge and communications experience are needed in the Food, Agriculture, Natural resources, and Human (FANH) sciences.

This work is supported by the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative’s Research and Extension Experiences for Undergraduates program area, grant no. 2021-68018-34633/project accession no. 1026051, from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture.