BioBLOG gives students chance to communicate research to wide audience
November 10, 2023 - Mary Beth King
In 2011, Felisa Smith, Distinguished Professor of Biology at The University of New Mexico, was discussing science communications with then-graduate student Mason Ryan.
“It was after another of those episodes where Congress hears testimony on some big issue, like climate change, and instead of hearing from scientists, actors testify. It might have been Kevin Bacon testifying about climate change. We realized that part of the problem is that scientists are never taught how to communicate, nor why it is important. So, we thought perhaps we ought to change that,” Smith explained.
Ryan now works for the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD), focusing on garter snake species listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act with the goal of their recovery to healthy populations in Arizona and New Mexico.
“I've aways had an interest in sci comm. Science literacy is so valuable to people’s lives but little emphasis is made to communicate complex topics with clear, concise language for those with a non-science background. Due to our training, we use technical jargon and terms as though they're in common usage, which can alienate more than communicate. I'm a first-generation college student and had this realization when speaking to my family about what I was doing in grad school. They feigned interest and smiles, but then my mom asked me to re-explain everything in English. Doh!” Ryan said.
Soon after their discussion, the UNM BioBLOG... tales from the field and lab, inspired by nature was started, and 12 years later the student-run communiqué is still going strong. The blog recently reached its 390,000th view.
“BioBLOG is about writing and communicating science. We aim to make the cool stuff we do in Biology accessible to a broader audience and in the process become better ambassadors of science. Some of our blogs are funny, some are serious, and the topics are vast. Some are exceptionally well-written and some not so much. But they are in the student’s voices. The students are endlessly creative and new ideas for posts are always showing up,” Smith noted.
Not every scientist or ecologist with amazing, inspiring, or funny stories behind the scenes in science end up in National Geographic but this blog gives them the opportunity to tell the tale, Ryan said, adding that that it’s important that students at all levels, as well as faculty, learn how to relate their work to the public. The blog gives them the opportunity, constructive feedback, and confidence.
Blogs take the form of an essay on a subject of interest, a succinct summary of exciting new research findings, or a personal experience of research and discovery. In addition, students are expected to play an active role in discussion and peer review of other contributions.
Smith set a goal of 30-40 posts a year and then set up a one-credit class with the requirement that each participant submit at least one blog during the semester.
Read more in the UNM Newsroom
