Last Tuesday, I tagged along with a few friends to a local venue where a gifted guitarist was in the lineup. Since it was a weeknight, there was hardly anyone in the audience – too bad, the show was amazing! As the musician greeted us, he asked me what I was doing in Iowa City. “I work at the University” – Ah, you teach French? – No, I teach Anatomy and do research–Research, so you are a scientist?
I paused before going on with the conversation. I wanted to say more about my work, but I already felt that I had been categorized as “inaccessible” and “too complicated”. I wanted to take this opportunity to explain my science in simple terms, but he already categorized me as a scientist.
Reaching out to the public and communicating science effectively is one of our strategic goals at AAA. This means that we have committed resources to be a leader in the field. For example, we are reaching out to K-12 students by promoting the first Anatomy-Bee, and brought a group of local students to Anatomy Connected. We are supporting Anatomy Nights, a series of topical activities in local bars showcasing the heart and other fun organs. We are also training scientists to become more effective science communicators at our 3rd iteration of the SciComm Boot Camp next month.
Of course, part of science communication is about writing scientific results in a manuscript or giving an institutional seminar. But it is more than that. It is explaining to an administrative staff the impact of the million-dollar grant they just submitted on your behalf. It is about having a conversation (sometimes just 30 seconds!) with your state representative about why your work matters so that they can advocate for funds. And most importantly of all, it is about being able to engage with your parents, or with the guitarist who just came off stage, about the essence of your work! Regardless of the situation, it is about reaching out to the public and empowering people by demystifying science.
Many times I would be asked at family dinner “What do you mean by feeding cells? Putting mice under UV lights?” No, I was not giving cells cheese or wine and mice were not getting a tanning session. In those moments, being able to explain efficiently to my family my projects allowed me to make them feel good, smart, and proud. I made science accessible to them.
As individuals studying the anatomical sciences, we have the privilege to study bodies, something everyone can relate to. Let’s use it to make science accessible - and maybe write a song about it for the guitarist on stage.
Best,
Martine Dunnwald, PharmD, Ph.D., FAAA
AAA President
University of Iowa
Iowa City, IA