Funding Opportunity for Science Communication Researcher-Practitioner Partnerships

The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) is offering two awards for $37,500 each to build capacity for science communication and facilitate efforts of science communication researchers and practitioners to collaborate on projects related to a recent report titled, “Communicating Science Effectively: A Research Agenda.” This report reviewed the state of scientific understanding on science communication and arrived at a to-do list for future research in the area.

To apply, scientists should submit a 2,000 word proposal describing a partnership with a practitioner who communicates science. “For example, a practitioner focused on preventing the spread of influenza might partner with a researcher focused on the ways that values and ideas are communicated through informal social networks,” the announcement reads.

Teams should submit their proposal by June 1, 2017, and awards will be made in July 2017. In November 2017, the teams will present at a third convening of the NAS Arthur M. Sackler Colloquium on the Science of Science Communication.

Potential applicants can learn about the first and second iterations of this colloquium, which were held in 2012 and 2013, respectively, on the NAS website or in the Observer. And if you’re looking for inspiration, be sure to read a recent Observer article on how abbreviations hamper scientific communication, too.