Engaging with the media is not for the faint of heart, but speaking on behalf of the entire world, we need you to step up scientists! Your research is important and valuable, and you may (I chose that word deliberately) be the best person to communicate it. So, while the prospect of doing a media interview might seem futile, frightening or frustrating (they got it “wrong” in the past, didn’t they?), you can’t give up – just as you don’t in the lab when your data don’t support your hypothesis.

There’s a great deal of misinformation floating around “out there” and it’s up to experts to speak up when they see that happening. Many do but more don’t. It’s crucial to debunk myths that can be harmful (vaccines cause autism is a pervasive one). As new technologies develop, we also need scientists to explain how they work in order to dispel fears and quash rumours. The hype around CRISPR and designer babies is a good example of this.

The Ontario Institute for Regenerative Medicine (OIRM) has produced a video from a science communications workshop that it held last November (2016). Lisa Willemse, of OIRM (and the founder and former co-editor of Signals), explains why scientists should communicate their science – and she means more than simply publishing in a journal. By the way, while communicating science benefits society, it also benefits you/your career.

Before you watch the video, blogger Laine Jaremey wrote about another speaker at that same workshop: Ivan Semeniuk, science reporter with The Globe and Mail. He also feels it’s essential that scientists share their work with the media. His tips for honing your message to the media can be found here. You can also watch the video on his talk here. And if you still need a push, the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) offers these practical tips.

Our regular feature, Right Turn, appears every Friday and we invite you to submit your own blog to info(at)ccrm.ca. We encourage you to be creative and use the right (!) side of your brain. We dare you to make us laugh! Right Turn features cartoons, photos, videos and other content to amuse, educate and encourage discussion.

As always, we welcome your feedback in the comment section.

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Stacey Johnson

Stacey Johnson is the editor of Signals and a contributor. For 25 years, Stacey has been providing strategic communications counsel to government, corporate, technology and health organizations. She began her career at the CTV Television Network and then moved to Hill & Knowlton Canada where she advised clients in a variety of industries and sectors. Stacey is the Vice President, Communications and Marketing for CCRM, a leader in developing and commercializing regenerative medicine-based technologies and cell and gene therapies. She has a Master's degree in Public Relations. You can follow her on Twitter @msstaceyerin.

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