“So what are you going to study?” Jerry, the janitor and my new friend, asks me in the elevator that descends to the first floor of the apartment building.

“Astronomy!” I replied with a smile, some fun facts about astronomy ready in my back pocket.

“Astronomy!” he replied enthusiastically. “I’m a Pisces, what does that mean?”

For decades, poster sessions and conference talks have provided ways for young astronomers and lay scientists to present their work to audiences inside and outside the subfield. But what about learning how to communicate your research to the public? What about children? After spending countless years studying the effects of “how the spin-flip energy levels of hydrogen affect the radiation received from quasar number 4983240,” I wrote about my research in a fun and engaging way. Knowing how to talk to those people can be difficult. You may not know anything about your field. The skills that astronomers learn in academia to communicate their research may not be the same skills needed to communicate effectively to the general public. But don’t worry. You already have the skills you need to be a good science communicator. All you need to do is be human.

That’s exactly what I noticed on a bright Saturday morning at the University of Chicago. Tents and booths dotted the campus, and families with children of all ages flocked to enjoy the first annual Southside Science Festival. Scientists from all walks of life demonstrated everything from how to extract DNA from strawberries to how to treat butterflies. But as an Astrobites writer at the CMB experiment, she couldn’t help but be drawn to the astronomy booth hosted by UChicago’s Director of Education and Public Relations, Juliet Crowell. I was thrilled with the prospect of learning new things, but I had no idea what was in store for me.

how to be human

Lesson 1: Get Creative!

Find unique ways to capture your audience’s attention

My first stop was at one of the booths hosted by the Antarctic Telescope (SPT) group. These astronomers study the cosmic microwave background (CMB), a light almost as old as the universe itself. At the first table, I watched children put their hands in ziplock bags insulated with lard, feathers, or cotton before dipping them in buckets of ice water. All the while, graduate students Wei Kuan and Paul Chichula told children about conditions in Antarctica and the types of animals that live there. It doesn’t sound like astronomy. I thought. Shouldn’t we leave the story about animals to wildlife biologists? Where’s the science?

“Some of the science is a little esoteric and untactile. Difficult. Juliet told me in a one-on-one conversation about public outreach.[Scientists] You may want to focus on talking about their research, and it is equally important to add activities that engage the public and show them how important an exciting space is. You want them to listen to you and want to get interested in science.”

This was the first lesson I learned about public outreach. I want To learn about your science before you actually talk! From my background in presenting my research at conferences, I naively believe that the most important aspect of scientific outreach is to convey as much scientific information as possible to the audience. It captivated an audience of science enthusiasts. Do we need to convince them that science is fun?

But public outreach isn’t all about learning how to talk about your science. Embrace your natural creativity and show your audience why the universe is cool! Have your viewers play with your lab-created wafers, draw their own scientifically accurate black holes, and use ds9 to I’m going to show you all the beautiful celestial images that I’ve spent days reducing. Those experiences will be as memorable as the science you teach.

Lesson 2: Be yourself

Don’t be afraid to show off your personality!

The next SPT booth I visited was a photo session. Children and teens were invited to wear special extreme weather hoodies that the scientist wears in Antarctica as he works on his SPT. By the end of the roll, they were standing in front of a beautiful Antarctic backdrop, a spectacular aurora painting the sky above the telescope. Standing beside research scientist Tom Crawford, head of the SPT group A scientist, he struggled to answer every question a curious passerby might have about Antarctica and the science done there. It was easy to see why an experienced science communicator like Tom was waiting at the booth, but I couldn’t help but look at the photo booth. It was creative enough to draw people in, but if photography wasn’t a science, what could it teach the general public? do you

Frankly, “It’s about letting kids see themselves as scientists,” Juliet explained. “The idea is that you can talk to scientists about Antarctica. Become the scientist. Often the following happens: I with scientists you general citizen. But it is: How can I get you involved? How can I get you to imagine yourself as a scientist?”

This was the second lesson I learned about public outreach. Once you’ve captivated your audience, you should try to build a genuine connection. I often have a habit of putting on my “scientist persona” when I publish my research. He explains his research calmly and professionally, almost like a job interview.that’s how i believe in me should do it Talk about science. However, in some cases this may not be the most effective way to navigate public outreach. Sometimes being yourself is far more influential. You are as cool as the science you do!

Lesson 3: Be Passionate

Share your excitement for science with others!

Our final stop was a table hosted by a group of exoplanet experts. Their table was full of different activities such as making your own comet out of tin foil, foam balls and ribbons and scratch art your own alien. As we shaved, I spoke with graduate student Louise Gagnon about why she volunteers at the festival and how she participated in public outreach. .

“There was one observatory I went to when I was younger, the J.J. McCarthy Observatory. It’s what inspired me to pursue it and why I love outreach.”

As Louise spoke, I couldn’t help but remember Juliet’s words. When he was a kid, he used to collect sand dollars and various things from the beach and line them up in his bathtub. It’s all about finding the first spark. Even if you don’t understand all of science, or are interested in other scientific fields or careers, they can feel your passion”

And just like that, the whole public outreach picture was in place. Every researcher had an initial spark that inspired them to pursue science. It can be as simple as the night sky looking cool, or as philosophical as wondering where our place is in the universe. Either way, the real impact of public outreach comes from using your passion to give others the first spark in science. It may sometimes feel like you’re not making a big difference in someone else’s life, but it only takes a few shells to make an impact.

A final lesson: everyone can do outreach!

I came home from the South Side Science Festival with my own comet and aliens in hand, but what really came back was knowledge. I’ve learned that becoming an effective science communicator may be easier than someone thinks. All it takes is a little creativity, a little personality, and a little passion.

Ultimately, outreach is not about learning how best to explain all the intricacies of CMB as scholarly communication teaches us.it’s really about Man talk to Man. It’s just about being human. We all have different lives, but we all have one thing in common. We can all become great scientists.

Therefore, whether you are an undergraduate or graduate student, a professor or a science enthusiast, if you are interested, we encourage you to participate in public activities. Not scary! There will always be someone like Juliet by your side, helping you every step of the way. , individuality and creativity.

Edited by: Sasha Warren

Featured image credits: University of Chicago

About Kayla Cornoerge

I am a graduate student at the University of Chicago studying cosmology and the cosmic microwave background. Outside of research, I love writing science fiction, drawing, petting cats, and hanging out on Twitter @kayla_kornoelje.