Module 5: Next Steps: Practice and Continued Growth
Module 5: Next Steps: Practice and Continued Growth
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Overview
Overview
Science communication is a skill that grows stronger with practice. This final section gives you more opportunities to apply what you’ve learned through new examples and short practice challenges. The more you work on explaining your science clearly, the more natural and impactful it will become.
Key Messages
Key Messages
Communicating science clearly helps you build trust, influence decisions, and make your work accessible.
There’s no “one size fits all”, adaptation and practice are essential.
Even small, everyday efforts to communicate better can make a difference.
📝 Practice Exercise 1: Plain Language Rewrite
📝 Practice Exercise 1: Plain Language Rewrite
Our research focuses on optimizing enzymatic hydrolysis for enhanced bioethanol production from lignocellulosic feedstocks.
We are utilizing nanostructured catalysts to increase the efficiency of hydrogen production through water electrolysis.
The goal is to enhance the photostability of perovskite solar cells to improve their commercial viability.
✅ Exercise 1 Rewrite Example:
“We’re working on improving the process of breaking down plant material to produce renewable fuel like bioethanol.”
“We’re developing tiny materials that help make clean hydrogen fuel more efficiently by splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen.”
“We’re working on making new types of solar panels last longer and work better in sunlight so they can be used more widely.”
📝 Practice Exercise 2: Misinformation Response
📝 Practice Exercise 2: Misinformation Response
“If something is natural, it’s automatically safe.”
“Vaccines cause autism.”
“If you can’t pronounce an ingredient, it must be harmful.”
✅ Exercise 2 Response Example:
“Not everything natural is safe, some plants, animals, and bacteria can be harmful. Whether something is safe depends on how it works, not whether it’s natural.”
“Extensive research has shown that vaccines do not cause autism. Vaccines are one of the safest and most effective ways to protect against disease.”
“Just because something has a complicated name doesn’t mean it’s dangerous—many safe everyday substances, like the vitamins in food, have long names too.”
📝 Practice Exercise 3: Audience Adaptation Practice
📝 Practice Exercise 3: Audience Adaptation Practice
For each topic below, try writing a 1 - 2 sentence explanation for:
A policymaker
A child
A community member
Topics:
Artificial intelligence in daily life
Plastic pollution and biodegradable alternatives
Space exploration and satellites
Plant-based diets and sustainability
✅ Exercise 3 Audience Adaptation Practice Example:
Topic 1
Policymaker: “Artificial intelligence is helping industries and governments work more efficiently by analyzing data and supporting better decision-making in areas like healthcare, transportation, and public safety.”
Child (10-year-old): “AI is like a smart robot brain that helps people make decisions or do things faster, like when your phone helps you find your favorite game or song.”
Non-Science Community Member: “AI is a technology that helps people and businesses solve problems faster, like helping doctors read scans or helping your phone suggest words when you text.”
Topic 2
Policymaker: “Investing in biodegradable materials can help reduce plastic waste, protect ecosystems, and support sustainable economic growth through green innovation.”
Child (10-year-old): “We’re making new kinds of plastics that can break down safely so they don’t hurt animals or pollute oceans.”
Non-Science Community Member: “Researchers are working on eco-friendly plastics that break down naturally, helping reduce the amount of harmful plastic in our environment.
Topic 3
Policymaker: “Expanding satellite technology can strengthen communication, navigation, and disaster response, benefiting both the economy and public safety.”
Child (10-year-old): “We send special machines called satellites into space to help us use GPS, check the weather, and even talk to people far away.”
Non-Science Community Member: “Satellites in space help us with things we use every day—like phone signals, weather forecasts, and emergency services.”
Topic 4
Policymaker: “Encouraging plant-based diets can reduce healthcare costs, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and support sustainable agriculture.”
Child (10-year-old): “Eating more plants and less meat can help keep animals safe, save water, and make the planet healthier.”
Non-Science Community Member: “Choosing more plant-based foods can help the environment by using fewer resources and reducing pollution.”
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