Join your peers in one (or both!) of the Think Fast! virtual workshops.
Have you ever been out in the field talking science to someone and had it go poorly? Didn't know how to respond and missed an opportunity? Or received either a harsh or no response? Don't worry, we've all been there!
We'll learn how to design science communication endeavors using the science of learning, while also learning principles of improv to help with delivery and responding to your audience. While each workshop will have a similar set up, each will be different enough that you can attend both and learn more, or come to one! Come ready to learn and have some fun!
SESSIONS
- 18 Sep 2023, 09:00AM - 10:30AM PT
Think Fast! Enhancing your SciComm with the Science of Learning and Improv: Part 1: Motivated Reasoning and Audience Engagement
- 23 Oct 2023, 09:00AM - 10:30AM PT
Think Fast! Enhancing your SciComm with the Science of Learning and Improv: Part 2: Establishing Trust in SciComm and Best Practices of Presenting
FACILITATORS
Dr. Melanie Peffer is the awarding winning author of 'Biology Everywhere: How the science of life matters to everyday life'. Biology Everywhere is a journey through the science of life as told through our daily experiences. She also wrote a children’s spin off of Biology Everywhere, On the River. She is passionate about making science accessible for all. To that end, she creates content on biology related topics and trains scientists and professional science communicators on evidence-based strategies for science communication. When not writing or in the classroom, Dr. Peffer enjoys playing her flute and enjoying all that Colorado has to offer with her family.
Brian Palermo is a professional actor and writer who draws from his over 30 years experience in the entertainment industry to teach the vital skills of audience engagement to various clients.
But to his own surprise, he fell in love with his side hustle of facilitating communications workshop specifically for science and technology cohorts. And he has developed a specialized niche of training scientists to improve their communication and presenting skills, often utilizing informal exercises as methodology.
As a facilitator, Brian has worked with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab, Brookhaven National Lab, The Monterey Bay Aquarium and MBARI, USC’s Keck School of Medicine, the US National Parks Service and more. And as a professional actor and member of The Groundlings Theatre, he’s performed with and directed comedy legends such as Kristen Wiig, Will Ferrell, Melissa McCarthy, Jennifer Coolidge and many others.