Strong communication skills are critical to advancing scientific knowledge and demonstrating how science is relevant and important to a variety of stakeholders, decision-makers, and community members. Effective science communication and engagement requires humility, honesty, patience, and a willingness to develop skilled communication practices and meaningful relationships with the audience. A lack of formal science communication training leads many to unfortunate mis-steps in which they miscommunicate their work or misunderstand the background, interest, or values of their audience.

The goal of this session is to share best practices in science communication and engagement gleaned from experiences failing-forward and recovering from science communication mis-steps. Speakers will offer stories from diverse disciplinary perspectives and communicate through various mediums including social media, presentations, and discussions. Speakers will highlight lessons learned engaging educators, resource managers, decision makers, public community members, and marginalized scientific communities (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOIC), first-generation, disabled, LGBTQIA+, undocumented, etc.) through building relationships and storytelling. The final talk will present a framework that articulates actionable recommendations for setting science communication goals and leveraging the power of stories, shared values, and experiences to be effective science communicators. The final portion of the INSPIRE session will be continuing a facilitated discussion among the panelists and audience on best practices in science communication and engagement.