Training in scientific communication helps students develop skills that enhance their ability to share their knowledge with other researchers, non-scientists, and stakeholders, and improve their understanding of pressing questions in climate-change science. This aspect of the 4EC training program adopts several approaches, including immersive workshops and public engagement.

During the weekly professional development seminar, trainees will develop and practice short narratives that describe their research for non-specialists using an "And But Therefore" format.

We will offer a workshop on scientific communication developed specifically for undergraduate researchers. The workshop, led by a collaboration of communications professionals from the UC Davis College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, the UC Davis College of Biological Sciences, and UC Davis Strategic Communications, will examine the following.

• the role of scientific communication in conveying ideas within and outside of the scientific community
• developing two-way conversations about science (emphasizing true ‘engagement’ rather than unidirectional ‘communication’)
• the importance of understanding the values of an audience
• the role that storytelling plays in connecting scientists to their community.

Scholars will end the workshop by presenting a capstone project that illustrates some aspect of their summer research.

Workshop leaders

Kat Kerlin serves as UC Davis’ environmental public relations specialist. She earned a degree in journalism from the University of Missouri and joined the UC Davis Strategic Communications staff in 2011 after a dozen years as an environmental journalist. Her regular beat includes climate change, ecology, conservation, water, and wildlife. She also co-hosts Unfold, a UC Davis podcast about health, agriculture, and climate change.

Caren Weintraub, the communications director for the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, oversees the college’s creative team. Together, they support communications for undergraduate academic programs, faculty and staff, alumni and friends of the college and industry partners. Caren manages communications strategy and develops communication plans, oversees web content, and provides consultative support for the academic departments and centers and institutes housed within the college.

Evan White is the Director of Marketing and Communications for the UC Davis College of Biological Sciences, where he works with a small but mighty team of photographers, social media specialists, and writers. He also serves on the College of Biological Sciences DEI committee, and in his free time, continues to write, direct, and pursue other creative endeavors that transcend disciplinary silos.