"Your fantastic [grant application] resource comes just at the right time. THANK YOU!!! Now I have some homework resources for
my student and I to review and reflect upon that will hopefully move the mark considerably
more than I have in the last couple weeks.”
~Full Professor, UW Dept. of Geology & Geophysics
Mission: The University of Wyoming Science Communication Initiative (WySCI) was launched in 2017 as a grassroots, faculty- and staff-driven initiative to enhance the UW community’s capacity to effectively share science with the state and the world.
Vision: WySCI is a grassroots, campus-wide initiative which envisions a campus community that values, supports, and creates effective science communication and engagement.
See our 2022 year-end brief for highlights from WySCI programs, impacts, and more.
WySCI was founded in summer 2017, as a result of several Initiative members offering science communication courses and/or obtaining grant funding which supports our work. Initially, WySCI offered courses and in-person workshops. Today, we are a campuswide effort which works to support, create, and value the following:
TRAINING |
RESEARCH |
CULTURE |
Trainings:
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UW-led research on SciComm & Broader Impacts including:
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Enhance internal (UW) awareness & valuation of SciComm and Broader Impacts:
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Support for enhanced grant writing and Broader Impacts efforts
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Growth towards peer institutions for related services, support, etc.
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UW’S UN-TAPPED EXPERTISE
UW possesses extensive, nationally and internationally recognized science communication, public engagement, and broader/research impacts expertise. However, this expertise remains disconnected, under-resourced, and under-leveraged.
LEVERAGING WYSCI
We continue to investigate collaborations and partnerships with administrative units with the capacity to fully invest in WySCI. With such a strategic investment, WySCI would be well-positioned to enhance UW faculty, staff and student capacity to address UW’s Pillars and strategic directions. Specifically, we could sustain or expand programming which directly addresses issues of:
grant coaching and support;
public scrutiny of/mistrust in science;
resource imbalances and democracy concerns as they intersect with the recruitment, training, and retention of people seeking careers in STEM fields;
public, policymaker, and media engagement.
These foci have the potential to substantially enhance existing efforts at UW to conduct applied research, teaching, and entrepreneurial development for numerous UW priorities including earth systems change, biodiversity, rural health and quality of life (which intersects with matters of resourcing and democracy), and economic development and energy-economy transitions.
SHOVEL-READY SERVICES
Science Communication Certification (operational; first cohort has successfully completed the program)
Grant-Writing Coaching/Consulting Service (currently runs as a drop-in; could be scaled considerably)
Demystifying the Media training (successful pilots have been run at UW and national scientific conferences)
Research on transdisciplinary scholarly activity and science communication at UW (research underway)
Transdisciplinary capacity-building through focused programs at main campus and AMK, Neltje Center, and UW Casper (e.g. Public Science Fellowship program, field courses, competitive internal funding for development of relevant programs, etc.) (Pilots are underway in collaboration with Sheridan College, the UW Creative Writing Program, and the UW Neltje Center.)
LOW-HANGING FRUIT
UW MENTOR Program - Mentoring toward Equitable, Novel & Transdisciplinary Outcomes of Research (actively fundraising; contact WySCI director for details or to offer support)
Minor in Science Communication (obvious next step from certification)
Follow this link to meet the individuals who founded, govern, and make WySCI happen.
WySCI and its services are possible thanks to support from 16+ units on campus, including the Biodiversity Institute, College of Engineering and Applied Science, Communication & Journalism Department, Department of Zoology & Physiology, Department of Visual Arts, Ecosystem Science and Management Department, Ellbogen Center for Teaching and Learning, Graduate Student Network, Haub School of the Environment and Natural Resources and the Ruckelshaus Institute of Environment and Natural Resources, UW Extension, UW Science Initiative's Learning Actively Mentoring Program, UW Science Initiative Wyoming Research Scholars Program, Wyoming INBRE, Wyoming NSF EPSCoR, Wyoming Migration Initiative, and Wyoming NASA Space Grant Consortium.