Panel Discussion: Scientists Get Creative to Engage the Public in Science

Vinton Gray Cerf, Susan D'Agostino, Bill Andrews, Jürgen Richter-Gebert, Talithia Williams

The COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, artificial intelligence, the opioid epidemic, and the Mars expedition are just a few of the complex science topics in the news today. Regrettably, many of these topics have been politicized, leading to vaccine hesitancy, climate change denialism, and other undesirable outcomes. Fortunately, a recent Pew Research Center survey found that public confidence in scientists exceeds that of confidence in elected officials. Scientists who are willing to engage with the public – via writing, exhibitions, TED talks, infographics, art, and more – not only have an opportunity to enhance public science literacy but may find the experience personally and professionally rewarding. In this panel you will hear from mathematicians, a computer scientist, and a science journalist who engage the public in science in creative ways, including writing and editing books and articles aimed at nonexperts, curating public exhibitions, and producing videos that go viral.

Moderator:
Susan D'Agostino – Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists

Panelists:
Vinton Gray Cerf – ACM A.M. Turing Award 2004
Bill Andrews – Quanta Magazine
Jürgen Richter-Gebert – Technical University of Munich
Talithia Williams – Harvey Mudd College

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