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Would you like to share your science with a wider audience? Brush up your storytelling skills? Ace your virtual presentation game? And... are you affiliated with one of the National Science Foundation’s 12 flagship STCs? (see rules and eligibility below)
If so, the Museum of Science invites YOU to join the Reach Out Science Communication Challenge! The virtual Reach Out Science Slams will be live streamed this spring, offering thousands of dollars in stipends and prize money and a leg up on your career. Get ready by signing up for our free interactive online science communication workshops this January and February, and join our growing community of next-generation science ambassadors.
Participate in free online workshops in January and February 2021. Entries are due March 7th, and the Science Slams will take place (they will be live streamed!) in April and May.
Channel your inner science superstar and enter the Reach Out Science Slam! Slam finalists will perform their three-minute science stories on our virtual stage as they compete for votes and prizes. The Slam Finals will be Zoomcast LIVE in early May before a national audience and a panel of expert judges. $1,000 prizes will be awarded to the audience choice winner as well as the judges’ pick.
Guidelines — How to craft a winning Slam entry
The Prompt: Tell a story that engages an all-ages audience in your area of research or the broader work of your STC
. You could illuminate a key concept related to your area of research, communicate the significance of a challenge your STC is tackling, or show the power of interdisciplinary team science.Be creative! You may work individually or in teams; you may use slides, props, animations, music, or dance.
All entries must:
Be under three minutes.
Include a LIVE presentation component.
Be accessible and appealing to a general audience.
Communicate the impact (or potential impact) of the work.
Be scientifically valid.
All qualified entries will earn a $50 stipend. Semifinalists and Finalists will be invited to participate in virtual coaching sessions and will earn additional stipends ($150 – $250) preparing their presentations for the spotlight. See Stipends, Prizes, and Incentives for more details.
Enter the Reach Out Science Slam!
Submit your Entry: January 1 — March 7, 2021
Entry instructions
Read the full Rules & Eligibility.
Make a video recording of your entry. (This doesn’t have to be a polished video, just one that records your story and approach.)
Complete the entry form by March 7, 2021, and include a link to your entry video.
Need help preparing for the Slam? Or just looking to expand your virtual SciComm skills? The online Reach Out Science Communication workshops are designed to take your skills to the next level and prepare you to share your science story with public audiences. Whether you're looking for help crafting your three-minute Science Slam entry, want to become a more engaging presenter, or just want to brush up on your online presentation skills, these 90-minute small-group interactive workshops have something for you!
These free, interactive workshops will be delivered via Zoom by a team of experienced science communication professionals from the Museum of Science, Boston. The workshops are open to students and postdocs affiliated with the 12 NSF-funded Science & Technology Centers. (See a list of the STCs, in the Rules & Eligibility section below.)
Session 1 – Crafting an Engaging Science Story
Topics include: connecting with your audience; refining your message; telling a compelling story.
Session 2 – Acing your Virtual Presentation
Topics include: using visuals and props to explain your science; best practices for virtual presentations; Zoom tips and tricks.
To keep group size small and accommodate participants across the country, each session will be offered on a variety of dates and times. Workshops will take place on Mondays, Fridays, and Saturdays in January and February 2021. Participants are welcome to attend either or both sessions.