- July 22, 2021
- Posted by: Ariana
- Categories:
Saturday, July 10th, the SAi community came together for our first annual symposium titled”Research and Practice Insights at the Interface of Science and Society.” Residents, alumni, interns, and staff connected virtually to network and discuss our community’s efforts over the past year and what we can look forward to accomplishing together in the upcoming year.
“This past year has proven tough for researchers and practitioners working in the science engagement, outreach, and communication sectors,” said Claire Holesovsky, SAi Communications Officer. “It was important for us to come together to honor our resilient efforts and be inspired by others within our community.”
During the symposium, we saw new data and heard insights/ stories on projects and initiatives at the interface of science and society from SAi Junior Residents Rosario Marroquín-Flores and Priscila Guzman, and Senior Residents Dr. Peter Vollbrecht and Dr. Adriana Bankston.
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Their presentations remind us that no matter what stage you are at in your career, it’s crucial to balance your work with meaningful initiatives. Something as simple as remembering your “why” can take you farther than ever thought possible. Additionally, it’s important to surround yourself with a community of individuals who support and challenge you. We are very fortunate to have both of these within our SAi community.
Additionally, we heard from Dr. Bruce Lewenstein of Cornell University, who presented the keynote address, “Why public engagement is – and always has been and always will be – critical for science.” Dr. Lewenstein is a widely-known authority on public communication of science and technology. Trained as a historian of science, he often uses historical case studies in his research.
Dr. Lewenstein took us on a journey back through the early days of public engagement and reminded us of the tremendous impact initiatives can have in connecting with others about science. It was truly an all-around inspiring and informative talk.
As we start our “new year” in the SAi incubator, we are fortunate to have moments to reflect upon the work we’ve done and think deeply about what we’ve learned. We remain excited about the opportunity another year presents us and will work endlessly to achieve our mission of enabling and accelerating the building of new approaches that expand pathways of access between science and society.
Stay tuned for more great science outreach, communication, inclusion, and engagement programs over the next year.
Make sure to stay up to date in the world of SAi by following us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram. We also continuously update our YouTube channel and website with helpful resources and information about all SAi events including next year’s symposium. Consider taking your involvement one step further and apply to join our community either as a resident or fellow.
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