When Science Speaks

Dr. Sarah Chobot Hokanson is Assistant Provost, Professional Development & Postdoctoral Affairs at the Boston University School of Medicine where she provides services and programming for all postdoctoral scholars at Boston University. Previously, Dr. Hokanson was US Deputy Director of Science and Innovation at the British Consulate-General in Boston.

Research and technology create immense value for the world through the results of their hard work. Important innovation and discovery are done in labs around the world, but there is another equally important landscape for businesses and startups who are working in innovative technologies, and that is the connection between people.

Dr. Christie Canaria is a Program Director in the Small Business Innovation Research (or SBIR) Development Center at the National Cancer Institute. She provides programmatic support to small businesses applying to the SBIR and STTR programs and has areas of expertise in biological imaging, biosensors, and nanotechnology.

Dr. Canaria was an AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellow, and she began science policy work in Washington DC in 2013. Previously, Christie managed an optical microscopy facility at DOE Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, as an imaging expert and neurobiologist. She was also a coordinator and imaging expert at the Caltech biological imaging center.

Dr. Canaria earned her Ph.D. in Chemistry from the California Institute of Technology. Prior to that, Dr. Carnaria earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from the University of California, San Diego.

What You'll Hear On This Episode of When Science Speaks

[00:41] Mark introduces his guest, Dr. Christie Canaria

[03:05] How Dr. Christie came to be Program Director

[06:12] Communicating scientific ideas to the public

[08:11] The SBIR programs are the engine for innovation

[11:12] Dr. Canaria's programs provide funding in the form of grants and federal contracts to small businesses that have innovative projects with high commercial potential

[13:33] How Dr. Canaria and her program choose the companies they work with

[17:04] There is a lot of value in the program

[19:09] What the future holds for the program

[21:32] Dr. Canaria could not have predicted her career path

Connect with Dr. Christie Canaria

I-Corps at NIH

FAQ for I-Corps at NIH

LinkedIn for Dr. Christie Canaria

AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellowships (STPF)

The engine of innovation

Innovation is a major factor in the development of small businesses. That innovation involves risk, however, and not all entrepreneurs and business owners are ready to take put their hard-earned company on the line. Being a startup company is always difficult, and having a business that is trying to innovate with cutting edge technologies is no different.

The SBIR Programs that Dr. Christie Canaria are a part of are what they like to call America's Seed Fund. They provide early-stage funding for biotech companies, many of whom are startups. Companies like this can be started in a lab and are looking for traction and money to get off the ground. The National Cancer Institute, which is a part of the NIH, funds many of these small businesses that are working on the next generation of technologies in the field of cancer research.

The value in connections

Part of the process for going through the SBIR program is interviewing 100 people. That can seem like a lot of work, but there is incredible value for companies to gain in going through that process. That process inherently leads to a sharing of ideas that can lead to "aha" moments. Perhaps one the entrepreneurs will end up applying their technology to a different disease than they were initially studying, leading to a breakthrough that would not have otherwise happened.

It is a networking process that can be fruitful for the businesses as well as their research. In one example that Dr. Canaria gives in this episode, she worked a team that had interviewed over 160 people during the eight-week program. Their network was naturally expanded through those efforts, and about a year after the program it paid off. Because of the connections made during I-Corps, they were able to connect with another party that became a multi-million dollar strategic partner and investor.

Learn more about Dr. Christie Canaria on this week's episode of When Science Speaks.

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Research and technology create immense value for the world through the results of their hard work. Important innovation and discovery are done in labs around the world, but there is another equally important landscape for businesses and startups who are working in innovative technologies, and that is the connection between people. 

Dr. Christie Canaria is a Program Director in the Small Business Innovation Research (or SBIR) Development Center at the National Cancer Institute.

Working as a geotechnical engineer, or any technical field requires a highly-trained skillset. Years of education and training is needed to prepare for a career in the STEM fields. However, the high-quality institutions that educate students in those fields are not always as focused on teaching them other skills that are beneficial in the workplace. There are ways to learn these skills, however, as this week's guest knows well.

Terre Nicholson is Principal Consultant at HD Geo, a consulting firm in New Zealand specializing in geotechnical engineering, contaminated land, and observation. Terre has more than 30 years of experience in project and environmental management. She has also served as Bureau Chief of the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection.

Terre earned her bachelor's degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas. There she worked as an engineer in training in Occupational Hygiene at the Nevada Test Site. She also received her diploma in Hazardous Materials Management at the University of California Davis.

What You'll Hear On This Episode of When Science Speaks

[01:06] Mark introduces his guest, Terre Nicholson

[03:15] The differences of working in the United States and New Zealand

[05:13] Effectively engaging stakeholders

[08:42] Terre's time as the Bureau Chief of the Nevada Division Environmental Protection

[11:01] Terre shares a story from her experience in policymaking

[19:50] The key to success is perseverance

[23:38] When empathy is fake

Connect with Terre Nicholson

HD Geo

LinkedIn for Terre

Effectively engaging stakeholders as a scientist

One of the most underrated skills for someone who works in STEM fields is communication. Technical fields are very focused on developing the skills inherent to a chosen field, and understandably so. But what are some of the possible ways to overcome this? What are some other, non-technical skills that professionals and students can learn to become better communicators? Terre has some great insight on this topic this week.

One way Terre talks about to improve these areas is education. Terre took a class on risk communication. In that course, she learned that empathy is key. When communicating with someone it is helpful to imagine their point of view and understand that they are entitled to their opinion. Many people just don't have complete knowledge and it is important to convey your point without making them feel stupid.

Perseverance in the face of cancer

In 2006 Terre was diagnosed with breast cancer. She underwent treatment and overcame it, but the cancer came back not long after that. But this time her breast cancer was diagnosed as stage four, which is terminal. There are drugs and treatments that are available, but for Terry, who lived in New Zealand, those drugs had an astronomical cost.

After a struggle with what to do and who to look to for help, Terre ended up working with the Breast Cancer Coalition. Terre found a sympathetic ear in Parliament and was able to speak at that governmental body. Terre and over 250 people marched on Parliament and she was able to share her story. As a result of her efforts, Terre's petition has garnered over fifty thousand signatures.

Learn more about Terre Nicholson on this week's episode of When Science Speaks.

Connect With Mark and When Science Speaks

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Terre Nicholson is Principal Consultant at HD Geo, a consulting firm in New Zealand specializing in geotechnical engineering, contaminated land, and observation. Terre has more than 30 years of experience in project and environmental management. She has also served as Bureau Chief of the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection.

Dr. Amelia Burke-Garcia is the Director of the Digital Strategy & Outreach Program Area within the Public Health Division at NORC at the University of Chicago. She is also the author of her first book titled Influencing Health: A Comprehensive Guide to Working with Online Influencers, which is an analysis and how-to manual on the evolution and power of online influencers. Dr. Burke-Garcia is also Director of the Digital Strategy and Outreach Program of the Public Health Division at NORC University of Chicago.

Prior to her time at the University of Chicago, Dr. Burke-Garcia served as the director for the Center for Digital Strategy and Research at Westat, as well as an Adjunct Professor at George Washington University. Amelia has been named by as one of 10 modern female innovators who are changing medicine.

Dr. Burke-Garcia earned her PhD at George Mason University in Communications. Prior to that, she earned her master's degree at Georgetown University and her bachelor's degree at McGill University in International Development and Humanistic Studies.

What You'll Hear On This Episode of When Science Speaks

[2:16] Dr. Burke-Garcia gives some background on her new book

[5:08] What is an online influencer, and why are they important?

[11:10] Influencers are expected to be "Pinterest pretty" all of the time

[12:20] Can an influencer be popular and still be authentic?

[17:32] Combating "alternative facts"

[23:26] The best practices for building engagement, and what to avoid

[28:11] How disclosure works, and when influencers need to show that they are getting paid

[30:29] Dr. Burke-Garcia's advice for those who are starting out

Connect with Amelia Burke-Garcia, Ph.D.

Influencing Health: A Comprehensive Guide to Working with Online Influencers, by Amelia Burke-Garcia, PhD

NORC at the University of Chicago

LinkedIn for Dr. Burke-Garcia

Can influencers be authentic as they grow in popularity?

Influencers gain popularity in many ways. Many of them grow their audience by projecting a persona of authenticity. With the growth of an influencer's popularity can come an increased amount of paid posts and product placement. Paid posts are a great source of income for influencers, but is there a subsequent loss of credibility?

Trust is important for an audience, as Dr. Burke-Garcia points out. That trust is born out of credibility and authenticity. A powerful way for influencers to gain that connection is through personal stories. There aren't as many influencers sharing personal stories these days. When the personal touch is lost, and there is just a wash of paid content and advertisements, the audience that an influencer has built up will start to leave.

The problem of "alternative facts"

The rise of social media has meant that more and more people have access to a voice that can reach around the world. This is a very good thing, but it is a double-edged sword. While the truth has gained a voice, so has its opposite. Very little information on social media is fact-checked, and that can lead to the phenomena of "alternative facts".

Dr. Burke-Garcia brings this up in this week's episode. The algorithms of social media platforms are designed in such a way that what a person likes and clicks on curates the content that that person sees in the future. The same thing is true for influencer content. Just because someone in a health influencer doesn't mean they have any training or education in the area of their focus, especially when much of their content can be paid posts.

Learn more about Amelia Burke-Garcia, Ph.D. on this week's episode of When Science Speaks.

Connect With Mark and When Science Speaks

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Subscribe to When Science Speaks on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher

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Dr. Amelia Burke-Garcia is the Director of the Digital Strategy & Outreach Program Area within the Public Health Division at NORC at the University of Chicago. She is also the author of her first book titled Influencing Health: A Comprehensive Guide to Working with Online Influencers, which is an analysis and how-to manual on the evolution and power of online influencers.

The power of storytelling is evident in so many parts of our society. The movie and television industries are bigger than ever and growing more so each year. Storytelling is now and has been used effectively in the realm of politics for a long time. So what about science? Are there lessons to be learned from storytellers by scientists who wish to communicate their work more effectively to the public at large?

Jack Dannibale is the Founder and President at Massimo Inc. Jack and his team create compelling media campaigns with notable leaders such as President Barack Obama, and actor Matt Damon. Jack has also served as Senior Media Advisor and Chief Speechwriter for US House and Senate Democrats. Before his work in politics, Jack worked in Hollywood with Jerry Bruckheimer Films and Walt Disney Studios, where he focused on Motion Picture development, marketing and writing. Jack earned three Emmy Award nominations for his work at PBS.

Jack earned his Master of Fine Arts from the University of Southern California in Writing for the Screen and Motion Picture Producing. Prior to that, Jack received his BA in Writing and Film, Summa Cum Laude, also at USC.

What You'll Hear On This Episode of When Science Speaks

[3:03] What drew Jack to his field

[5:59] Jack's advice for scientists who want to tell their story

[9:17] Crafting a story out of scientific research and data

[13:16 Connecting with your audience

[19:48] The power of a shared community

[24:39] The problem of "alternative facts"

Connect with Jack Dannibale

Massimo Inc.

LinkedIn for Jack

The Strategy of crafting a story

One of the greatest strengths of data and research - its objectivity - can also be a hurdle to the effective communication of science to the public at large. The layperson in society is more used to communication that is closer in form to that of a narrative. What are the possible ways around this? What can scientists and researchers do to find better ways to communicate with the public?

In this episode, Jack Dannibale has some great ideas. The key element of successful communication of ideas is connection. Jack suggests marrying the "prose" of data and research with some aspects of storytelling to create a more personal connection with listeners and readers. What does this mean to them? How will this affect them personally? That is the way to connect with audiences.

Know your audience

The next step is to know what the best way to go about connecting with your audience. For that to be successful you have to know them. When crafting a story, writers sometimes like to stress that you should start at the end. What is the end goal or end result you want? What does a connection with the audience look like? After finding out what your goal is, you can work backward from there to build your connection, as Jack points out.

By bringing the results of research and data into their logical conclusion, you can create a connection and a sense of community with the audience and how it impacts them, whether it be through the environment or the world at large, or even a combination of the two. Techniques like these take research and elevate it from data on a page into the imagination and lives of the public.

Learn more about Jack Dannibale on this week's episode of When Science Speaks.

Connect With Mark and When Science Speaks

http://WhenScienceSpeaks.com

https://bayerstrategic.com/

On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BayerStrategic

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Subscribe to When Science Speaks on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher

Jack Dannibale is the Founder and President at Massimo Inc. Jack and his team create compelling media campaigns with notable leaders such as President Barack Obama, and actor Matt Damon. Jack has also served as Senior Media Advisor and Chief Speechwriter for US House and Senate Democrats. Before his work in politics, Jack worked in Hollywood with Jerry Bruckheimer Films and Walt Disney Studios, where he focused on Motion Picture development, marketing and writing.

Telling stories is a part of human history. Storytelling is one of those human elements that transcend culture and geography and time. Whether it be through theater, television, cinema, the written word, or even the oral traditions of the past, the communication of values, morals, and entertainment have been used throughout the ages.

Eric Clausen is a marketing and communications executive with more than two decades of international experience building brands and telling stories. For the past nine years, he's led CG life, an integrated marketing and communications agency operating at the intersection of life science and healthcare. He's also the founder of the Life Science Network, a professional networking organization that reaches more than 25,000 professionals.

Eric earned his bachelor's in Environmental Science and German at California State University Sacramento.

What You'll Hear On This Episode of When Science Speaks

[1:40] Why stories are such a compelling way to communicate

[3:15] What makes a good story?

[5:48] How scientists can use a narrative, storytelling angle to explaining science

[7:33] Why empathy is an important aspect of storytelling

[8:20] Communicating complexity in a relatable way

[12:07] Preparing scientists as spokespeople

[14:25] Eric shares a story of successful marketing by the use of storytelling

Connect with Erik Clausen

CG Life

Erik Clausen on CG Life

LinkedIn for Erik

Storytelling has influence and history

Storytelling is a powerful tool in society. There are so many kinds of stories, more than just fairy tales and fiction novels. Indeed, as Erik Clausen points out on this week's episode, storytelling is as old as society itself. It is how things got done and how messages were conveyed. The education and influence that the elders of a village or tribe wish to convey to the younger generation could be passed on through the use of a good story.

It remains true to this day. Gaining influence over the community at large, whether you are a scientist, engineer, or politician, the use of stories can carry your message to the general public. Getting feedback and gaining a consensus in the current age of social media can bring about change in the world. That is the power of storytelling.

Composing a good story

What makes a good story? Writers and creators have been puzzling over this question for hundreds of years, if not more. It certainly seems as if some stories resonate more widely than other stories, so what is it that makes that so? What elements have popular writers such as Shakespeare included in their art that other writers have not captured?

In this week's episode, Erik has some great opinions on this subject. As he points out in the episode, it is all about the journey of a protagonist as they overcome a challenge or problem. There is a tension that is built up in their struggle, which is released upon completion of the task or solution to the problem.

Learn more about Erik Clausenn and his work at CG Life on this week's episode of When Science Speaks.

Connect With Mark and When Science Speaks

http://WhenScienceSpeaks.com

https://bayerstrategic.com/

On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BayerStrategic

On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Bayer-Strategic-Consulting-206102993131329

On YouTube: http://bit.ly/BSConTV

On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markdanielbayer/

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