Science Advocacy Skills

Throughout the year, ESPA hosts and co-hosts various workshops that focus on honing advocacy skills with an emphasis on helping scientists advocate and communicate their research and expertise more effectively. These workshops have previously been used to precede Meet A Scientist events, but are now used for scientists interested in expanding the efficacy of their messaging, whether to communities at-large, or to their local representatives.

Events listed with the SAS designation are a part of the SAS series intended to be taken together, producing well-rounded science advocates.

To learn more about any of the workshops we host, co-host, and endorse; please see the following links.

ESPA Workshops:

Facts Aren't Enough: Building Trust and Understanding (SAS)

Know Your Audience: Improv for Engaging Conversations (SAS)

Story of Self: Using Narrative for Advocacy (SAS)

Science Policy & Advocacy 101: A Crash-Course in the Basics of Policy Communication for Scientists

Endorsed Workshops:

Effective Advocacy Skills Workshop, hosted by Ford School's Program in Practical Policy Engagement

• "Effective advocacy is a critical part of the policy-making process at all levels of government. Now more than ever, advocates require knowledge and skills to create and sustain effective advocacy efforts.

This session will train participants in the steps essential for any effective advocacy strategy at the local, state, or federal level, with an emphasis on developing strategic written and oral communication skills.

In this workshop, you will learn to: Identify policy issues, Prepare clear goals & acceptable compromises, Develop pro & con arguments, Identify appropriate target audiences, Select policy "champions", Build effective coalitions , Determine relevant stakeholders, Build effective messages, Execute strategies and relationship-building, Use/create a "One-pager"