As part of the #SciComm Seminar series, the Center for Health and Science Communication at Becker Library welcomed Ross C. Brownson, PhD, the Steven H. and Susan U. Lipstein Distinguished Professor of Public Health at the Brown School and School of Medicine, in April 2025. During the session, Dr. Brownson shared some insights on communicating [Read more]
A graphical abstract is a visual summary of your research, designed to encapsulate your key findings and give readers a quick understanding of the main message, while inspiring them to engage and find out more. As the volume of scientific literature continues to expand, graphical abstracts have emerged as powerful tools for filtering and assessing [Read more]
Health literacy is the degree to which individuals have the ability to find, understand, and use information and services to inform health-related decisions and actions for themselves and others. Nearly half of U.S. adults read between a 7th- and 8th-grade reading level, but health information is often delivered at a 10th-grade level or higher. October is [Read more]
This is the second of a two-part series on effective poster presentations. Part 1 provided tips for designing and composing an outstanding conference poster. The moment has finally arrived. The session featuring your poster is about to start. You set it up last night so that fellow attendees would have a chance to browse it [Read more]
Health and science communication best practices include developing communication that is respectful, inclusive, and accessible to your audience. Here are some resources to support your regular communication with patients and research participants using inclusive and preferred language. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Inclusive Communication Principles include key principles for general communication and preferred terms for select [Read more]
Conference posters are the most abundant form of scientific communication and frequently the first incursion of scientists-in-training into dissemination — ahead of oral presentations or peer-reviewed papers. For researchers at any career stage, posters are an excellent opportunity to share work in progress, test new ideas, network, and sharpen a variety of communication skills — [Read more]
Our #SciComm Seminars are back this fall with exciting new topics to expand your science communication toolbox. Here are some highlights from the 2022-23 #SciComm Seminars series: Beth Prusaczyk, Assistant Professor of Medicine, drew from her experiences in policymaking and journalism for valuable tips on how to prepare, deliver, and follow up on your advocacy [Read more]
As a researcher, you communicate your work to a wide variety of people daily. Besides engaging in jargon-rich discussions with your peers, you might share your research on a personal website, talk about it at a community event, or write about it on social media. Plain language can help you reach beyond academia and ensure [Read more]
At the Institute of Clinical and Translational Sciences’ 4th Annual Symposium, “Making an Impact, Shaping the Future,” panelist Dr. L. Ebony Boulware, vice dean for translational science research at Duke University, emphasized the need to speak a common language, especially when working with community members and research participants. While this isn’t always an easy task, it [Read more]
Have you wondered how to improve the documents and forms your department shares with research participants and patients? Plain language is one of the best tools to ensure your writing is clear and accessible to all. Research shows it can increase research participation, improve adherence, and overall, lead to better health outcomes. A few of [Read more]