24-25 JSK Workshop 3: Science Communication with Katie Sheahan

Overview

On Monday, November 4th, The International SeaKeepers Society hosted the third Junior SeaKeepers Program workshop for 2024-25 cohort students. Junior SeaKeepers workshops are aimed at personal and professional development for students throughout the year-long program, and we were thrilled to have guest speaker Katie Sheahan, Seakeepers' Science Liaison, to give students a crash course in communicating scientific research and other complex topics.

We started the workshop by discussing why scientific communication is important, including a detailed discussion about the “Science Gap'' between those who conduct research and those whom the research impacts and/or the general public. Students identified specific elements of scientific research and data that make communicating to laymen so complicated and we brainstormed how certain ideas or terms could be simplified for the average reader. We outlined important considerations when communicating scientific information, including the perspectives of author(s) and audience, the order in which information is presented, and how jargon is utilized and explained. Students were then introduced to a short, creative science communication project where they would choose an issue of marine conservation importance and create a sort of “PSA” in the form of an art piece, a video, a game, etc. The information they received as a part of the November Workshop will not only be helpful to their science communication projects but will be invaluable for their futures both consuming and creating scientific communication.

By attending workshops with the SeaKeepers team, our Junior SeaKeepers have the opportunity to develop personal and professional skills that will aid them in their advancement in STEM studies and careers. We hope that our workshops give students a glimpse into how much they have to gain out of this unique extracurricular program!