science communication

Dear Research Advocate, The title of a 1997 report, “ Worlds Apart : How the Distance Between Science and Journalism Threatens America’s Future,” is as relevant today as it was then , and it’s still a good read. Television journalist Jim Hartz, who died last week , was the author. Jim was vexed by the interplay between the media’s lack of interest in science and the research community’s weakness in communicating with the public; and he decried the decline in federal science funding as a share of our economy — realities that challenge us to this day. Research!America worked with Jim to strengthen the links between journalism schools and graduate science schools; this is still...

Dear Research Advocate, Today is day 50 since Russia invaded Ukraine, initiating a deplorable, heartbreaking conflict, foremost so for the Ukrainian people. Today we reflect on the repercussions for scientists in both countries as well as the implications of the radical disruption of international research collaboration. In a thought-provoking CNN o pinion piece , American physicist and popular science figure Don Lincoln, PhD, notes that scientists are currently wrestling with decisions about how to engage with their Russian counterparts. He addresses the interconnectedness of scientific enterprise: “academic researchers are, by and large, internationalists. We ask hard questions and aim to...

Dear Research Advocate, I don’t like to start letters with disappointing news, but it’s best to get to the heart of things. This week the Biden Administration released a budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) that would provide grossly insufficient funding for NIH. The proposed 0.6% increase will not p osition our nation to address longstanding, emerging, and yet-unknown health threats, nor bolster our research capacity to ensure global competitiveness. As a reminder, the President’s budget is a statement of Administration priorities that begins the appropriations process. Congress will be deeply involved in its execution, and we are confident our alliance and other NIH advocates can...

Dear Research Advocate, “The cost is billions. The return is trillions, and it's priceless to patients and their families.” This characterization of the life-saving research NIH supports and conducts by Jed Manocherian, ACT for NIH Chairman and Founder, is emblematic of the affecting and thought-provoking discussions that took place throughout yesterday’s 2022 Advocacy Awards. (We were honored to recognize Jed with the Gordon and Llura Gund Leadership Award for his unparalleled NIH advocacy. If you couldn’t join us “live,” check out this high-level recap of the program and watch the full event . We’d like to again express our appreciation to the honorees themselves, to the award benefactors...