Early Career Scientists: Apply Now for IARPC's Interdisciplinary Science Communication Training Program

January 17, 2018
By Jessica Rohde

As interdisciplinary science collaborations become more common when addressing big problems in Arctic research, scientists require the tools and skills to effectively communicate and collaborate across disciplinary boundaries. Through this program, the Interagency Arctic Research Policy Committee (IARPC) seeks to:

  • entrain early career scientists (ECS) with the communication skills needed to collaborate with researchers from all fields and sectors,
  • engage them in the research policy process,
  • provide access to Federal program managers and senior researchers, and
  • give an opportunity to present their work without the expense of traveling to a conference.

IARPC seeks 6 ECS to enroll in this inaugural session. The ECSs will identify a collaboration team of interest, participate in and contribute to IARPC Collaboration’s work, and produce a “lightning talk” about their own research to be delivered as part of the IARPC Public Webinar Series.

Application deadline: 2 February 2018 at 1700 EST (2200 GMT)

The duration of the program will be from February through May 2018. Each ECS will select an IARPC Collaboration team with which to associate. As appropriate, the ECSs will work with their IARPC Collaboration teams to contribute to the implementation of Arctic Research Plan 2017-2021 and create a space for interdisciplinary collaborations.

Program Commitment 

During their appointment, participants will be expected to:

  1. complete the interdisciplinary science communication short course (see below),
  2. deliver a lightning talk during an IARPC public webinar and a collaboration team meeting,
  3. attend 2 IARPC Collaboration team meetings,
  4. complete a program evaluation form. 

Course Material

The interdisciplinary science communication short course will be completely online via Zoom webinar software (6 sessions at 1 or 2 hours in length, 12 hours total over a period of 4 months) and will include:

  1. Orientation (Monday, February 19, 2018, 1 PM – 3 PM Eastern Time)
    • Trainee introductions
    • Introduction to IARPC
    • IARPC’s 9 teams and participant team identification
    • Performance elements and reporting
    • What are team meetings like? Communicating live and online
  2. Interdisciplinary communication (Monday, March 5, 1 PM – 3 PM Eastern Time)
    • Audience consideration and jargon
    • The ABT Method: And, But, Therefore
  3. What Before How (Monday, March 19, 1 PM – 3 PM Eastern Time)
    • Storyboarding
    • Distilling your message: elevator pitch
  4. Public speaking (Monday, April 2, 1 PM – 3 PM Eastern Time)
    • Finer points of public speaking
    • Data visualization and slide design
  5. Lightning Talk Practice (Monday, April 16, 1 PM – 3 PM Eastern Time)
    • 5 minute lightning talk practice presentations by participants and feedback from peers and instructors
  6. US Federal funding in Arctic research featuring Federal Program Managers from various agencies (DateTBD based on availability of speakers and trainees, 1 hour)   
    • Brief presentations by Federal program mangers introducing their programs and how to get involved in US Federally-funded research
  7. PublicWebinar (DateTBD based on availability of trainees, but will be sometime in May)
    • Trainees will deliver their final lightning talks to a public audience 

Program Deliverables

  • ECSs will deliver their lightning talks, a product of the short course, to a collaboration team and during a public webinar as part of the IARPC Public Webinar Series, during May of 2018 (exact date TBA and will depend on trainee availability). Delivery will be recorded and video available for the fellows to learn from and share.
  • Participants will be granted membership in a self-formed team on the IARPCCollaboration website where they can continue to develop their communications skills, network with other fellows, and stay involved in the work of IARPCCollaborations.

Application & Selection Criteria 

Participants in the program will:

  • be a BS, MS, doctoral student/candidate currently conducting research related to Arctic science,
  • have a good command of English,
  • have an account on IARPC Collaborations with a complete profile (request an account at https://www.iarpccollaborations.org)
  • commit to participating in the (online) activities listed at the dates and times listed under the “course material” heading above
  • commit to attending at least 2 collaboration team meetings during the training period of February 19 – May 2018
  • be excited about interdisciplinary teamwork, and appreciate the need for science communication skills in cross-disciplinary collaboration. 

To apply please fill out the attached application and email it to Jessica Rohde, IARPC Collaborations Communication Officer / Web Manager, at jrohde@arcus.org. Applications are due by 2 February 2018 at 17:00 Eastern Time (22:00 GMT). Applicants will be contacted on or before 9 February 2018. ECS conducting research related to Arctic Research Plan 2017-2021 are encourage to apply, but research related to the plan is not a requirement for acceptance. Please contact Jessica Rohde at jrohde@arcus.orgwith any questions.

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