Escape from the Ivory Tower: A Guide to Making Your Science Matter

This book is an invaluable resource to scientists who are interested in increasing the broader impacts of their work. Focusing on several different aspects of outreach, including a wide range of media (from blogs through TV interviews) the book gives factual, clear and direct pointers for scientists interested in taking those first timid steps outside the lab. The book is written in a matter-of fact style, and nearly every page has useful hints from a variety of voices. Clearly the author and her team are speaking from years of experience in helping scientists navigate the mazes of press interviews and policy outreach.I think the strongest message to scientists that this book conveys is to not be afraid to take the step outside the lab. If you do solid science this book will help you make that science matter more. If you know that your work is interesting, this book will help you share your passion with others, and if your work has the potential to improve people's lives, the environment or our understanding of how the world works, this book will help you make sure that your message gets across to the widest range of people with the least amount of distortion.I have been waiting for a book like this to help me. This book has already inspired me to reach out to non-traditional venues and has helped me become more enthusiastic about the work that I already love.

This book does a great job of drawing scientists out of the laboratory and into the limelight, and giving them the practical advice and skills they need to be comfortable and effective in its glare. The author is particularly knowledgeable, since she is both an experienced journalist and a professional communications trainer. What's more, the book offers valuable tips from prominent science journalists and policy makers; and telling stories from scientists themselves about successful, and not-so-successful, communications efforts.The book's guidance ranges from how to develop and communicate messages, to how to give effective interviews and interact with policy makers. And besides practical information, the book offers extremely useful insights into the culture of journalists and policy makers, giving scientists the understanding they need to communicate effectively across what is sometimes a considerable cultural gulf.The book is both a savvy how-to book and a persuasive "why-to" book, explaining why scientists need to escape from their ivory tower. It warns for example that those researchers who elect not to engage with journalists and policy makers to communicate their knowledge of environmental issues "may be ceding the debate to those who know far less, or arrive with a self-serving agenda that shortchanges the best interests of society and the natural world."Although the book is aimed primarily at environmental scientists, it is invaluable for any researcher seeking to reach a wider audience. In fact, given that every scientist will find it necessary to communicate his/her work more broadly at some point, this excellent book should be on every scientist's bookshelf.

In this book, Nancy Baron challenges us scientists to not only communicate our science effectively and intentionally, but to do science that matters. It's not a one-way street, where after the science is done, you get it out there. She's proposing a two-way process where you think about how your science matters before you even design your hypothesis. She takes the mystery out of what drives the media and policy world, gives you the tools to deliver your message, and provides encouragement when you've stuck your neck out there. The kernels of wisdom and tools in each chapter are great. Pithy, funny, and dead-on, "Escape from the Ivory Tower," is a Message Box in itself. And the message is...do science that matters and get your science out there. At a time when our global environmental challenges are great scientists must contribute to the solutions. This book is a challenge to us scientists to step up and step out of the Ivory Tower. The world needs our creative ideas and results, so stop hoarding away your important results in those little-read journals and get out there and do some solutions-based science.Bottom line is: Get this book, it's essential reading for the next wave of science.

Needed for class.

I've been through multiple media trainings and this is the perfect refresher! If you aren't lucky enough to have work pay for a media training or work with Nancy at COMPASS, this is the next best thing. The chapters on message boxes, interviewing and distilling your message are particularly helpful. For those of us used to thinking in technical terms but seeing big implications of our work in the real world, this is a how-to guide for turning that potential into reality. Of course nothing beats a personal media training, mock interviews and one-on-one coaching, but this is as close as you can get and is a great bargain at the price.

You get what you put into it. If you work through the activities from the book it will benefit you much more than just a fast read through the book. I liked it but wish I came out with a more positive outlook on science communication.

As a scientist from a developing country I can tell you that what the book says is true. We live in an ivory tower where publishing in scientific journals is the objective, whic by the way I am convinced its the wrong objective

This has significantly changed and enhanced the way that I communicate Science to all audiences. Furthermore, it has improved my grant writing and quality of manuscripts submitted for publication. I highly recommend this book.

This book is full of fun advice to guide scientists in writing for popular press, speaking with the media and informing the world about your discoveries.