The Center for Communicating Science:
The art of connecting across difference
The Center for Communicating Science creates and supports opportunities for scientists, scholars, health professionals, and others to develop their abilities to communicate and connect. Our differences, whether they be racial, cultural, religious, education level, academic discipline, or research specialty, can divide us. But such differences also enrich our lives, broaden our perspectives, and strengthen our collaborations. Arts tools and practices can be used to bridge these divisions, helping participants to learn to listen deeply, interact personally, directly, spontaneously, and responsively, and express themselves vividly. It is our intention to deepen human interaction, strengthen empathy and awareness of others, and develop collaborative team and leadership capacities in students, faculty, and industry and community partners.
A message from Alan Alda on the opening of the Center: "I'm delighted to know that the founding of the Center for Communicating Science at Virginia Tech is inspired by the work we do at the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science at Stony Brook University. It's my dream that innovative techniques for teaching communication will make the relationship between science and the public one that's close, warm, and exciting. I congratulate Virginia Tech as it strikes out on that path."
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Science Comedian Brian Malow Shares Communication Tips
by CCS student intern Nicole Elbin
"When you're communicating, be human, be yourself, be passionate, be present, and be prepared," says science comedian and communicator Brian Malow. These five points
Upcoming Events
Lessons from Flint: Sid Roy and William Rhoades will tell us about their experiences with the Flint, MI, water crisis
April 23, 5:30 p.m.
Rising Silo Brewery, 2351 Glade Road, Blacksburg
Research a la Mode organizer Lisa Whalen is lining up presenters for fall semester. Research a la Mode provides a monthly venue for graduate researchers to practice their communication skills and share their research with people outside of their fields. Contact Lisa at lashley@vt.edu if you'd like to take advantage of this great opportunity!
We've got workshops for just about every Wednesday evening of spring semester! Sign up on our Participate page.
Recent Events
Open to Nutshell Games participants and other graduate students
Tuesday, October 24, 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Moss Arts Center
Pizza!
Open to all presenters for the Virginia Tech Science Festival: Come play with us and learn to communicate more personally, directly, spontaneously, and responsively.
Friday, October 20, 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Moss Arts Center learning studio
Communicating science workshops for chemistry graduate and undergraduate students
October 4 and 11
Kelly Hall 310
Brian Malow: "An Evening of Humor with Science Comedian Brian Malow"
February 26, 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Kwame Harrison: "Experiencing Blackness in Defiantly White Spaces--in a Car"
January 22, 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Jake Socha: "Flying and Gliding: An Evolutionary Advantage"
November 27, 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Marcella Kelly's research group: "Catching Carnivores Creatively: Using Poop and Cameras to Capture Clues about Elusive Animals"
October 23, 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Abi Tyson: ""Transforming Football Helmet Design"
September 25, 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Marc Stern: "How to Build Trust"
August 28, 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Nutshell Games winners Caitlin Colleary, Anza Mitchell, and Max Ragozzino
May 6, 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Rising Silo Brewery, 2351 Glade Road, Blacksburg