ABSTRACT
Building an infrastructure for science communication and engagement has the potential to support more scientists to effectively and efficiently achieve their engagement goals. The chapter explores the current status of this infrastructure, and the priorities to be addressed. A thriving and sustainable infrastructure to support scientists’ communication and engagement will involve clearly identifying communication goals and the pathways to achieve them, developing science communication policies, nurturing a culture that supports communication and engagement, creating coordination efforts to help scientists navigate goals and opportunities, investing in planning, building and maintaining the infrastructure, basing the infrastructure on research and monitoring and evaluating whether scientists are achieving their goals. Without an infrastructure, scientists will continue to expend more time and resources than necessary for them to engage in communication and outreach efforts. With an infrastructure, scientists’ efforts can be more sustainable and effective, and perhaps more scientists would seek communication support and opportunities.
