Science Communications: Past Webinars
Rehearse like an Actor
You might think actors prepare for the stage by making big stretchy vowel sounds. But the science of stagecraft is more developed than this cliché. In fact, how you practice for a presentation can have enormous impact on the quality of your presentation. In this lunchtime webinar, you will learn the stages of rehearsing from two former actors, Julia Guy and Merran Carr-Wiggen, now working at the University of Calgary. With these new skills in your back pocket, you will see the impact in the classroom, at conferences and in the public eye.
Date/Time: Tuesday, June 24, 2025 from 12:00 - 12:30 p.m. (MT)
Location: Zoom
How Scientists Earn the Reputation for Being Boring (And How to Change It!)
In this webinar, Mary Anne Moser, Science Communicator in Residence, will prime your ability to engage audiences so that you do not bore others. This is not a superficial exercise in entertainment (though you can be entertaining)! This is a fundamental requirement of scientists to rebuild public trust in science. Effective communication is a precursor to trust!
Date/Time: Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025 from 12:00 - 12:30 p.m. (MT)
Location: Zoom
Can You Dial Up Creativity to be a Better Scientist?
Spoiler alert – the answer is yes and no. Creativity defines science. Without it, no one would be able to hypothesize, for starters. And creativity plays a role in coming up with solutions, looking at data in new ways, engaging others, and so on. But the more we know about the hippocampus and its role in memory and the imagination, the more we understand what we can and cannot do to dial up creativity. In this 30-minute webinar, the faculty’s science-communicator-in-residence, Mary Anne Moser will draw on current neuroscience to guide you in a couple of deliberate ways that you can be more creative – and effective – in both your research and communication efforts. If a love of discovery led you to science in the first place, let’s dial it up!
With Guest Speaker Dr. Robert Kelly (Associate Professor, Faculty of Arts, Department of Art and Art History)
Date/Time: Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024 from 12:00 - 12:30 p.m. (MT)\
Location: Zoom
About the Guest Speaker:
Educator, author, artist and keynote speaker Robert Kelly is a recognized leader in the fields of collaborative creativity, creativity development, social innovation, strategic design, and transformative educational ecosystems with creativity as their primary rationale. He is an Associate Professor in the Department of Art and Art History and Academic Coordinator of the Collaborative Creativity for Social Innovation & Strategic Design graduate program in the Werklund School of Education at the University of Calgary. Robert has been an invited visiting scholar at several postsecondary institutions for his work in the field of collaborative creativity. As a changemaker, he is a fervent advocate of educational transformation to adapt to rapid sociocultural, economic and technological change and to empower all to create positive change for the benefit of others.
What Makes a Science Story Work, with John Rennie, Former Editor-in-Chief of Scientific American
As a scientist, you’ve likely admired the clarity and confidence of Scientific American, arguably the world’s most famous mainstream science magazine. Now, you can meet the man who was editor-in-chief for 15 years. In this exclusive webinar for UCalgary scientists, John Rennie joined the faculty’s Science Communicator in Residence, Mary Anne Moser, for a lunchtime chat. John took us behind the scenes of science publishing. In this video presentation, you’ll learn about the day in the life of an editor working with scientists around the world, and pro tips on how to work with editors at any level when your science story is being told. As a scientist, you’ve likely admired the clarity and confidence of Scientific American, arguably the world’s most famous mainstream science magazine. Now, you can meet the man who was editor-in-chief for 15 years.
Date/Time: Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 from 12:00 - 12:30 p.m. (MT)
Location: Zoom
About the Speaker:
John Rennie is a science writer, editor and lecturer based in New York City. For 15 years he served as editor in chief of Scientific American, during which time the magazine was honored with two National Magazine Awards. Most recently, he was a deputy editor at Quanta Magazine for more than seven years. In addition, he served as editorial director of McGraw-Hill Education's online general science reference, and wrote “The Gleaming Retort” for the PLoS Blogs science blogging network. He was the creator and host of the 2013 television series Hacking The Planet on The Weather Channel. His other television and radio appearances include the History Channel special Clash of the Cavemen, Discovery’s Apocalypse How, PBS’s Newshour, ABC World News, The CBS Early Show, NPR’s Science Friday, Minnesota Public Radio’s Marketplace and many other shows. Since 2009, he has also been an adjunct instructor in the graduate Science, Health and Environmental Reporting Program at the Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute of New York University.
How Being a Better Communicator Makes You a Better Scientist
Mary Anne Moser, the Faculty of Science Communicator In Residence, is this month's presenter. She brings a wealth of experience in area of science communications. Mary Anne has taught a world-leading science communications course to international audiences for nearly two decades. She is also the former CEO of TELUS Spark and has worked with the best of the best among science journalists, editors, and media personalities.
Presented by: Mary Anne Moser, Science Communicator in Residence
Date/Time: Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2024 from 12:00 - 12:30 p.m. (MT)
Location: Zoom