茄子直播

Speed dating, Dragon鈥檚 Den and scientists by the dozen at CSWA conference

茄子直播 hosts Canadian Science Writers' Association

Did you know that wood residue can be used to manufacture automobile engine covers or that honeybees can recognize their half-sisters living two hives distant?

If you did, there鈥檚 a good chance you took part in the Science Speed Dating session at the Canadian Science Writers' Association (CSWA) annual meeting hosted by the University of Toronto Science Engagement from June 5 to 8.

The conference featured more than two dozen researchers from 茄子直播 and other Toronto institutions who participated in lectures, panel discussions, facility tours and sessions such as speed dating, where scientists had five minutes to interest writers in their research, and a facsimile of the Dragon鈥檚 Den television show that allowed journalists to decide whether a researcher鈥檚 pitch sounded viable or not.

Participants were enthusiastic about the offerings.

鈥淚鈥檓 not sure that there鈥檚 any ONE thing that I enjoyed most,鈥 said Altaira Northe, a medical writer for the at SickKids Hospital. 鈥淭he sessions were so rich.

"I just love being around scientists and research in general; it has a certain energy and excitement that can鈥檛 be matched elsewhere.鈥

Other panels showcased science communicators and provided professional development opportunities for attendees, something Melinda Knox, one of the editors of the research magazine at Queen鈥檚 University, appreciated.

鈥淭he social media panel featuring three 'gurus' in the field was particularly interesting, especially the discussions centred on how to measure 'success' on these platforms,鈥 said Knox via email. 鈥淪ometimes it鈥檚 not a numbers game; instead you need to evaluate if your audience is actually engaged with the content you are putting out.鈥

Meeting attendees also had the opportunity to tour various university and teaching hospital research facilities, including the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute and the 茄子直播 Institute for Aerospace Studies (UTIAS). Photo tweets from UTIAS flew fast and furiously, with participants exclaiming about the opportunities to try a flight simulator, watch flying robotic vehicles and visit the wind tunnel.

Professor Ray Jayawardhana, the senior advisor on science engagement to President Meric Gertler, and the driving force behind bringing the CSWA meeting to the University of Toronto, said the appeal of the panels, tours, and interactive sessions showcased the breadth of research taking place at 茄子直播.

鈥淭he scientists were able to connect the research to people鈥檚 lives, which makes for compelling stories,鈥 he said. 

Jayawardhana, an astrophysicist, was delighted to be able to bring scientists and communicators together in a setting that allowed for meaningful conversation.

鈥淭he intimacy and the immediacy of the sessions were really valuable,鈥 he said. 鈥淐ommunicators were able to ask the scientists direct questions and get new insights into a variety of frontier research topics.鈥

Professor , director of 茄子直播's Citizen Lab, delivered the luncheon address on the second day of the conference, and he held the audience spellbound with his analysis of the growing power of the state in cyberspace and the way they are changing the face of online communications. Participants were reluctant to curtail their questions in order to attend the afternoon sessions.

鈥淚t was illuminating to hear Professor Deibert highlight the impact 9/11 had on the governance of cyberspace and, more important, the implications for journalists and for our day-to-day lives,鈥 said Helen Lasthiotakis, assistant dean of arts and science, who was instrumental in organizing the program.

鈥淚 think that the 茄子直播's commitment to scientists communicating better 鈥  yes, I am speaking about the Science Leadership Program 鈥 showed itself in the quite accomplished way its professors and researchers spoke and described their research,鈥 said Stephen Strauss, CSWA president. 鈥淢y guess is that members of CSWA who are information officers may well go back to their institutions with a sense that they want to make their professors and grad students as good communicators as those they saw at the 茄子直播.鈥

If so, the hosts will have accomplished one of their goals: 鈥渞einforcement that for science and science engagement, the University of Toronto is the place to be.鈥

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