Science Communication Network

The Science Communication Fellowship Program

The Fellowship program is on hiatus. Check back next year!

The Science Communication Fellowship is a nine-month program for early career PhD scientists who want to maximize the impact of their work to benefit public health and the environment, and share their passion for science.  Fellows are chosen from the fields of green chemistry/engineering and the environmental health sciences, and work in academia and government.

The program focus is on the skills necessary for confident and effective engagement with the range of non-scientists Fellows will encounter in their careers as they share rapidly evolving environmental health and green chemistry research.

You can learn more about past Fellows here.

Why science communication? 

Scientists are key in shaping the public’s understanding of vital issues affecting our health and the environment. The story of how chemicals affect health and the role of green chemistry in solving these problems deserves broad public understanding.

Now, more than ever, the public looks to scientists for answers and understanding. Scientists share in the responsibility for bridging the gap between what the science shows, and what the public understands about our environmental health and green chemistry’s ability to address these problems.

What is the Fellowship all about?

Fellows develop their communication and leadership skills in order to speak compellingly about complex science without “dumbing it down.” The program uses a cohort model which enables Fellows to learn from each other, watch their skills grow over time and build professional relationships that will extend into the future.

The media is a critical partner in telling the story.  To maximize that potential, Fellows learn how to effectively communicate with journalists. Fellows work with media professionals and communications coaches to practice presenting the science in plain language, using a variety of activities including mock interviews with some of the nation’s best journalists.

The training is beneficial to engagement with bloggers, social media, community groups and colleagues in other fields.

Communication skills learned help not only advance the science, but the scientist. Fellows explore their personal professional goals and receive one-on-one coaching to optimize their learning and develop skills and mindsets to advance their careers.

Know an amazing researcher who would benefit from communications training? Yourself, colleagues, post docs in your lab?  Please circulate this call for applications widely.

Details:

• Open to post doctoral fellows, junior faculty and early career scientists in government or private industry with active research programs related to the environmental health sciences and/or green chemistry.

• Fellows will work from their home organizations by phone and the internet. Ability to participate in zoom calls with video on is necessary and expected.

• Fellows must be located in the US or Canada and be fluent in English.

• Fellows are chosen through an application process by a panel of experts. Final selections June 2021, program begins September 2021 and ends May 2022.

• Media mentorship and professional development is provided by a team of journalists, writing and presentation coaches, and science advisors.

• Mandatory, two-day, in person, group training at the start of the fellowship in Washington DC, Sept 2021. (Travel scholarships may be available).

• Fellows are expected to attend monthly training calls where fellows present new, important, scientific findings from their area of expertise and participate in mini-trainings. Expect 2-3 hours of prep work prior to each call.

• All fellows work with a coach to learn skills and develop several short videos that will be featured as a part of cutting edge science series with Environmental Health News. Expect to dedicate the necessary time to complete these projects.

• Each fellows works with a career coach on individualized professional development goals. Fellows should expect at least an hour a month for this work.

• Fellows possess a willingness to take risks and enthusiasm for learning and practicing new skills with a group of peers.

Chosen fellows will share our understanding of the importance of scientists as leaders and bring a desire to share their expertise as a future leader in the field.