The objective of this presentation is to have you challenge your traditional way of thinking and communicating with non-science audiences. Many of us in the scientific community forget that we perceive and process scientific information in a different manner than much of the general public. We have had multiple years of training in scientific materials and methods, data generation, data analysis, results, and discussion. Scientists are trained to be objective and to take emotion out of our analyses. We determine the results of scientific studies by recording treatment results independent of treatment information and then come to conclusions using applied statistics. However, many members of the general public do not have this training and, in many instances, have chosen career paths and disciplines that are different than science-based training and technologies. Many of these individuals do not have training in complex science processes, tools, and related terminology used in the everyday vernacular of scientists. When asked a question by the general public, subject matter experts sometimes find it difficult to set aside their specialized complicated language and answer questions in layman’s terms. Communication methods to consumers about agricultural technology have been studied by the US Farmers and Ranchers Alliance and many other groups across the country. These findings will be used to explore different and more effective communication tools for scientists.<br/>

Communicating safety of agricultural technology to non-science audiences

254th National Meeting (2017)

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