A Leach’s Storm-Petrel: the most common breeding seabird in Newfoundland and the inspiration for my newfound love of science communication.
Recently, I was interviewed for CBC Radio Canada about my ongoing MSc research. I did not know what would come of it, but the article has attracted some attention and brought my research into the public light. Here is the link to the article if you are interested: https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/1720125/oceanites-petrels-recherche-sydney-collins-terre-neuve-oiseaux?fbclid=IwAR1jIh7WSIK_H-Ym49e-ZByAc6CztXd4DryxCixpUx_dfOJqrlKiE3Ddcgw
I study Leach’s Storm-Petrels, which are the most abundant breeding seabird in Newfoundland. What I have been learning throughout my master’s degree is that even though these little birds are very common, many people, even those who have lived here their whole lives, have never heard of them. Sadly, these birds are becoming less common, and many conservation actions are being taken, including my research. One of the most effective conservation measures we have found so far is simply having people who live near storm-petrel colonies turn their lights off at night. Science communication to the public is an important tool for conservation and change in many fields. For example, an essential part of combatting the current pandemic and in reducing cases is by wearing masks, reducing travel, and staying home when possible. These measures are working and have allowed Newfoundland to ease restrictions and have life become a little closer to normal. It is through the communication of science to the public that we can stay safe and live our lives.
It has always frustrated me how inaccessible science is to non-scientists. Access to journal articles is costly, and the articles themselves are not written for a lay audience, thereby increasing the knowledge gap. It is, therefore, the responsibility of scientists to communicate their research to the public. Although radio and TV interviews can be harder to come by, blogs, public presentations, YouTube videos, and social media are all great ways to spread the word. I particularly enjoyed participating in a Twitter conference this year, and my presentation alone reached more than 10,000 people! Seek out opportunities to promote your research wherever you can.
When communicating to the public, carefully consider how you explain your research so that it is understandable and that the significance is immediately evident. Ask yourself, “So what?” Why is it that the public needs to know about your work? How can they help you, and what will they get out of it? Also, consider your audience. Without talking down to them, try to understand what their breadth of knowledge and interests are. Communicating with school-age children will likely be different than to the general public. I love to practice explaining my research to my grandparents and my younger cousins. They are smart people but are not experts in my field and help me to ensure that my message is clear.
You can’t go out right now, but your research can! Let’s make our hard work more accessible!
~Sydney