ABSTRACT
What is the role of a scientist in a crisis? Should we act as whistleblowers, whose job is to police government and industry response efforts? Are we the experts that the media consult when they need a quote—only to find out later that the reporter has misinterpreted what we said? Or, just as frustrating, that the reporter already has an angle and wants to tell us exactly what to say in order to support their story? And how can we convince responders to take our advice? Regardless of the role you play, networking is the key to delivering actionable science. Scientists who have preexisting relationships—with the media, responders, government officials, and even the public—are hands down the most successful when it comes to communicating their knowledge.
