Public Engagement with Science

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Heidi presenting a plenary lecture at the American Astronomical Society Annual Meeting. Photo Credit: AAS
From serving as a science advisor for science festivals and giving plenary lectures to audiences of over 1,000 people to leading education and outreach efforts for Antarctic field projects, I find myself practicing many different forms of public engagement with science. In my current faculty position and as a member of the Science in Society research group, I also dedicate time to evaluating and studying the role of scientists as communicators - how do we define successful public engagement? What are our goals when we communicate? How can we narrow the gap between science communication theory and practice? These research questions also inform my practice, which is constantly changing and improving.

I have trained as a workshop instructor in 'Distilling Your Message' with the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science. In addition to coaching and training scientists, here are some of the major themes of my practice as a science communicator:

Cryosphere Communications

In 2014, I started a small science communication consulting business. Cryosphere Communications builds websites for scientific research programs, conducts project evaluation and develops educational content. Recent work includes instructing at the Science Communication at NASA course and developing 'Island of Ice', a NASA iPad kiosk product about science in Greenland.  If you are interested in collaborating, please contact me. 

Communities of Practice

I have served as a leader in organizations with a emphasis on science communication and science education. I am a founding member and former Executive Committee member of Polar Educators International and served as the  Co-Chair of the Association of Early Career Polar Scientists (APECS) Education and Outreach Committee from 2011-2013. I also serve as an advisor to Engage at the University of Washington. Through these organizations, I have helped to develop strategic plans, launch online professional development courses, lead workshops, coordinate webinars, deliver invited talks at international meetings, and coordinate global science outreach efforts, including the International Polar Week (IPW).

Festivals, Films
​& Blogs

I've been involved in numerous & diverse science communication projects. For example, I have worked alongside science festivals including NZ IceFest, and have participated in the PolarTREC (Teacher and Researchers Exploring and Collaborating) and Exploratorium's Ice Stories: Dispatches from Polar Scientists programs.  In 2014, I served as a science advisor for the Antarctic Time Travel Exhibition, which explored the Earth's future climate and over 50 million years of Earth's past climate. I've also helped to build the website, manage the social media campaign, and launch the climate change documentary, Thin Ice: The Inside Story of Climate Science. I am also part of the Scientists in the Classroom program in Northern Arizona. 

Science Communication
​Research

I am interested in understanding the role of scientists as communicators and identifying and developing methods that lead to effective and high-impact public engagement with science. One of my passions is advancing K-12 science education through improving the way educators are trained in science and by increasing the access that educators have to scientists and relevant, applied scientific data. As part of the Science in Society research group, I also study and teach about the theory of science communication. There is a wealth of formal research in science communication; numerous books and journals are useful for delving into the art and science of science communication and public engagement with science. Science Communication and Public Engagement with Science are two of my go-to's for the latest on this research front. 

Life on the Ice

Check out this National Science Foundation feature about our work in Antarctica.