ABSTRACT

Science Communication in a Crisis: An Insider’s Guide identifies the principal challenges that scientists face when communicating with different stakeholder groups and offers advice on how to navigate the maze of competing interests and deliver actionable science when the clock is ticking.

If a scientist’s goal is to deliver content and expertise to the people who need it, then other stakeholder groups—the media, the government, industry—need to be considered as partners to collaborate with in order to solve problems. Written by established scientist Christopher Reddy, who has been on the front lines of several environmental crisis events, the book highlights ten specific challenges and reflects on mistakes made and lessons learned. Reddy’s aim is not to teach scientists how to ace an interview or craft a soundbite, rather, through exploring several high-profile case studies, including the North Cape oil spill, Deepwater Horizon, and the 2021 Sri Lanka shipping disaster, he presents a clear pathway to effective and collaborative communication.

This book will be a great resource for junior and established scientists who want to make an impact, as well as students in courses such as environmental and science communication.

chapter |6 pages

Introduction

part I|22 pages

The Characters

chapter 1|8 pages

Our Hero, the Scientist

chapter 2|12 pages

The Supporting Cast

Villain … or Partner?

part II|70 pages

The Crisis

chapter 3|11 pages

How a Crisis Response Unfolds

The Role of the Scientist

chapter 4|10 pages

Who Writes the Narrative?

chapter 5|14 pages

Winner Takes All

chapter 6|12 pages

Piece by Piece

chapter 7|10 pages

Countering Scientific Misinformation

chapter 8|11 pages

Legal Challenges

The Erosion of the Scientific Deliberative Process

part III|41 pages

Lessons Learned

chapter 9|9 pages

Starting a Conversation

How to Talk about Science

chapter 10|9 pages

Interdisciplinary Teamwork

chapter |10 pages

Conclusion

The Pathway to Success