Make a Science of Communication

Communication is essential for career development . Young professionals may be new to science communication but they will need to learn to use many forms of communication to disseminate their research, discuss their work, and share their excitement about science. For peer-reviewed papers, some of the key factors to success include preparation, feedback from peers and mentors, breaking the writing into manageable chunks, and remaining patient, persistent, and positive. Oral presentations at conferences require plenty of practice, feedback from peers, and use of techniques to maintain the interest of the audience while emphasizing key messages. However, young professionals should not limit themselves to only communicating with other scientists—outreach with more general audiences can raise their profile and grow interest in their research topic. Some considerations in public outreach include taking a more visual or personal approach, simplifying jargon without "dumbing down" the science, and making use of storytelling. Social media offers great potential for communication with both colleagues and the public. Consistent posting, a sense of humor, professionalism, and interactivity are all elements for building a successful social media presence. Whatever the medium, young professionals should keep their audience in mind and how their story relates to that audience.