Recruiting Video

For this assignment, we created a 2-3 minute video addressed to high schoolers interested in scientific careers. This was a fun first assignment because it allowed me to think critically about how to explain my research/area of study to an audience without using scientific jargon or complicated topics. It took longer than expected to choose the images and metaphors I ended up using, but I think I was able to convey my message in a fun and entertaining way. I think this was a good introductory assignment for all of us, since a lot of us have never thought about trying to get kids/young students interested in our area of research.

Copy and paste the below link into your browser to view the video:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/148KrC_zVnQh53N1_DLZ1weocmxjYobJP

Research Summary

For the research summary, we chose a recent journal article related to our research, and we wrote a few paragraphs describing the article in plain English. This assignment was definitely challenging, as we weren’t allowed to include jargon or scientific terms, which were both very common in the article I ended up picking. We also had to pick a figure from this article and write a new figure caption without using any technical terms. This was probably the most challenging part for me, because I was so used to describing figures to a scientific audience in presentations and writing assignments. However, I thought this was a good exercise because I ended up having to describe many of my own research figures to the general public a few weeks after submitting this assignment.

Commentary/Op Ed

For this assignment, we were required to write an Op Ed style piece about our research or a science communication topic. I chose to write about the NOAA Urban Heat Island mapping campaign going on this summer. This project was carried out in a few US cities the last couple of summers, such as Dallas, Raleigh, and Chicago. Essentially, it is a citizen science project where people use heat sensors on their cars and bikes to monitor temperature and humidity data in their own neighborhoods, eventually creating an aggregate map of heat risk in a city. This assignment was helpful and unique in that it gave me an opportunity to voice my opinion on a research project I think is really important. It was challenging because I had never written an OpEd, but it gave me a greater appreciation for OpEd’s I see in newspapers and on news sites, especially related to climate.

Policy One Pager

For this assignment, we had to create a graphic that displayed some “take home” messages from a hypothetical meeting with a policymaker about our research. This was definitely challenging because it was the first time I had to make an infographic, and it was hard to limit the amount of text on the page, especially when I wanted to display many facts and statistics. However, once I found ways to make my information visually appealing, I really enjoyed this assignment! A few weeks after this assignment was due, I met with a few climate experts from the City of Raleigh for a grant I’m helping with, and they mentioned that they wanted to create more of these “one pagers” to pass out at events. If I ever need to create an Infographic for that project or my research in any way, I definitely feel like I will be prepared!

Mini TED Talk

For this assignment, we had to prepare a 5-7 minute “TED” style presentation about our research. This was probably the assignment that I found the most challenging for many reasons. I have never been a confident public speaker, and it was pretty difficult to try and memorize a full script and recite it in front of my peers. However, I do think this was a good learning experience for us, as it taught me how to present my research to a unique audience, as well as how to use storytelling and drama to paint a vivid picture about why my work is important.

Copy and paste the below link into your browser to view the video:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1f655ZdphUnMcNhsWioWR9WJs3eAmJOIE

Podcast

For the last assignment, we worked with a partner to write and develop a 5-7 minute podcast about a scientific topic of our choice. This was pretty difficult at first because I’ve never created a podcast or done much audio editing, but once we wrote the script, it was easier to storyboard and plan what we wanted to say in the podcast. My partner and I chose to use the recording equipment in Hunt library to produce the podcast, and it was actually a really fun experience! Though we had some technical difficulties at first, I really enjoyed using the microphones and software to produce a professional-sounding podcast. I have been listening to more podcasts recently (mainly sports-related), and it was cool to have that behind the scenes look at how they are produced. I would definitely be interested in creating another podcast if the opportunity presented itself.

2022-2023 SECASC Global Change Fellows Communications Product

Last year, I was a part of the Southeast Climate Adaptation Science Center’s 2022-2023 Global Change Fellows cohort. For our final class assignment, we made science communication products. I chose to create a webpage featuring an interview with Max Cawley (Museum of Life and Science, Durham) about extreme heat in North Carolina. I also had the opportunity to host and plan a risk communication webinar with him along with severe weather communication experts from the University of Oklahoma.

The below link displays a transcript of the interview with Max, along with supplemental links to interesting exhibits he helped put together at the Museum of Life and Science. This was a rewarding experience because I learned a lot more about how North Carolinians view extreme heat, as well as what is currently being done in the state to address its risks.

https://israye.wixsite.com/lily-raye-s-global-c/post/risk-perception-and-mitigation-of-extreme-heat-in-north-carolina

Here is a blogpost that talks about the risk communication seminar: