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Escape from the Ivory Tower: A Guide to Making Your Science Matter
Most scientists and researchers aren’t prepared to talk to the press or to policymakers—or to deal with backlash. Many researchers have the horror stories to prove it. What’s clear, according to Nancy Baron, is that scientists, journalists and public policymakers come from different cultures. They follow different sets of rules, pursue different goals, and speak their own language. To effectively reach journalists and public officials, scientists need to learn new skills and rules of engagement. No matter what your specialty, the keys to success are clear thinking, knowing what you want to say, understanding your audience, and using everyday language to get your main points across.
In this practical and entertaining guide to communicating science, Baron explains how to engage your audience and explain why a particular finding matters. She explores how to ace your interview, promote a paper, enter the political fray, and use new media to connect with your audience. The book includes advice from journalists, decision makers, new media experts, bloggers and some of the thousands of scientists who have participated in her communication workshops. Many of the researchers she has worked with have gone on to become well-known spokespeople for science-related issues. Baron and her protégées describe the risks and rewards of “speaking up,” how to deal with criticism, and the link between communications and leadership. The final chapter, ‘Leading the Way’ offers guidance to scientists who want to become agents of change and make your science matter. Whether you are an absolute beginner or a seasoned veteran looking to hone your skills, Escape From the Ivory Tower can help make your science understood, appreciated and perhaps acted upon.
In this practical and entertaining guide to communicating science, Baron explains how to engage your audience and explain why a particular finding matters. She explores how to ace your interview, promote a paper, enter the political fray, and use new media to connect with your audience. The book includes advice from journalists, decision makers, new media experts, bloggers and some of the thousands of scientists who have participated in her communication workshops. Many of the researchers she has worked with have gone on to become well-known spokespeople for science-related issues. Baron and her protégées describe the risks and rewards of “speaking up,” how to deal with criticism, and the link between communications and leadership. The final chapter, ‘Leading the Way’ offers guidance to scientists who want to become agents of change and make your science matter. Whether you are an absolute beginner or a seasoned veteran looking to hone your skills, Escape From the Ivory Tower can help make your science understood, appreciated and perhaps acted upon.
272 pages, Paperback
First published August 13, 2010
34 people are currently reading
463 people want to read
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May 7, 2024
As someone who has worked as both a journalist and a scientist, I hate that this book has to exist, and wish that all scientists would just instead prioritize presenting information to public audiences as part of their training. This book is a helpful "here's how to relearn how to be a person and talk to other people who don't have PhDs" guide for scientists. As a journalist, many of the points in the book were for an audience who does not have knowledge of the inner workings of media, and I found that what was missing from the book is the aspect of storytelling in its most raw form: journalists, writers, communicators all want something that will capture the public's attention and keep it, and that will then have an impact on the public's worldview somehow. Our whole job as writers is to sniff out what stories will do that and how to turn research into stories, and I wish that scientists were more clued into that aspect of science journalism.
April 4, 2011
Baron's book is a sort of how-to guide on ways in which academic scientists (or scientists of any kind, mainly ones focused in biology) can break out of the "ivory tower" and get involved with making their science available, relevant, and understandable to The Public. The book is simply and logically organized, focusing on ways to reach paper journalists, radio, politicians, and new-media outlets. I highly recommend this books for other scientists, even non-biology oriented ones. All of the examples Baron uses are folks working in conservation or environmentally-related fields but still, the tidbits in this book could help those who span the gamut in the scientific realm.
March 15, 2021
This is a nice, easy read with some decent takeaway messages for scientists looking to sharpen their communication skills. I especially liked the idea of the message box. However, (1) at moments these messages get lost amidst various testimonials or the many interspersed "boxes" of each chapter and (2) the title is a bit misleading, indicating that this book is for "making your science matter" when really it is particularly geared towards environmental science.
In my opinion, the main messages of the book could be summarized nicely in a shorter paper, essentially:
1. Stick to a single, clear message. Don't use jargon or acronyms.
2. Avoid numerical statistics. Instead, try engaging metaphors and tangible, local examples.
3. Think about what makes your science cool, visually appealing, and interesting for non-scientists.
4. Journalists want the bottom line first (skip the backstory).
5. Craft your "message box" (see p. 108: The Issue --> Problem? So What? Solution? Benefit?).
6. Reach out to journalists and politicians (they want to hear from you!) and reply fast.
7. Don't be afraid to take a stand. If absolutely unavoidable, communicate in terms of certainty instead of uncertainty.
I believe these takeaway messages are strong enough to stand alone, but this book is much longer due to the many anecdotes. These were nice when I first started reading this book, when each individual case was new and fresh, but I found that many were reused later on without adding much to the messages. This made some later topics feel redundant. Also, it is not clear to me why some anecdotes were written into the text while others were separated in "boxes." I think boxes should have been reserved for examples clearly distinct from the narrative flow. This was not the case. The overuse of boxes resulted in many broken up text passages, which was slightly annoying.
Also, this book is clearly intended for biologists and environmental scientists, even though any scientist can probably learn something from this book. It would have been nice if it had been written more generally for all scientists, or at least if the title indicated this book is focused towards biologists. I would have liked some examples more geared towards physics or chemistry. But to be fair, this book has inspired me to commit to doing more public outreach in my own field.
TLDR: this is a fine read with good communication tips for scientists--if you're willing to comb through the boxes of anecdotes and testimonials, nearly all of which are focused on biology and environmental science.
In my opinion, the main messages of the book could be summarized nicely in a shorter paper, essentially:
1. Stick to a single, clear message. Don't use jargon or acronyms.
2. Avoid numerical statistics. Instead, try engaging metaphors and tangible, local examples.
3. Think about what makes your science cool, visually appealing, and interesting for non-scientists.
4. Journalists want the bottom line first (skip the backstory).
5. Craft your "message box" (see p. 108: The Issue --> Problem? So What? Solution? Benefit?).
6. Reach out to journalists and politicians (they want to hear from you!) and reply fast.
7. Don't be afraid to take a stand. If absolutely unavoidable, communicate in terms of certainty instead of uncertainty.
I believe these takeaway messages are strong enough to stand alone, but this book is much longer due to the many anecdotes. These were nice when I first started reading this book, when each individual case was new and fresh, but I found that many were reused later on without adding much to the messages. This made some later topics feel redundant. Also, it is not clear to me why some anecdotes were written into the text while others were separated in "boxes." I think boxes should have been reserved for examples clearly distinct from the narrative flow. This was not the case. The overuse of boxes resulted in many broken up text passages, which was slightly annoying.
Also, this book is clearly intended for biologists and environmental scientists, even though any scientist can probably learn something from this book. It would have been nice if it had been written more generally for all scientists, or at least if the title indicated this book is focused towards biologists. I would have liked some examples more geared towards physics or chemistry. But to be fair, this book has inspired me to commit to doing more public outreach in my own field.
TLDR: this is a fine read with good communication tips for scientists--if you're willing to comb through the boxes of anecdotes and testimonials, nearly all of which are focused on biology and environmental science.
October 3, 2017
The blurb for this book promised a "practical and entertaining guide to communicating science" explaining "how to engage your audience and explain why a particular finding matters". I was hoping for tips on how to write and speak when communicating scientific information to people who are not themselves experts in the field. You know, advice for public lectures, wide-appeal books, magazine articles – things like that. Unfortunately it turns out the 'explaining' was quite literal; while I was expecting a writing advice book, this is all about how one should talk to journalists or politicians.
Most of Escape from the Ivory Tower concerns how to give interviews, how to sound good on the radio, and what to do if a journalist misquotes you. I am sure this is helpful to those in the intended audience, but since I don’t see myself being called upon to testify to Congress anytime soon, I found it a bit useless. There was extremely little that was relevant to scientists who want to directly address the public themselves: about two pages on how to set up a blog and five on how to write and submit an op-ed. As for how to write books or give lectures, the main reasons I picked up the book – those topics were not addressed at all. But if you want tips for how to adapt yourself to TV interviews versus print interviews, or how to set up a meeting with a senator, this is the book for you!
Most of Escape from the Ivory Tower concerns how to give interviews, how to sound good on the radio, and what to do if a journalist misquotes you. I am sure this is helpful to those in the intended audience, but since I don’t see myself being called upon to testify to Congress anytime soon, I found it a bit useless. There was extremely little that was relevant to scientists who want to directly address the public themselves: about two pages on how to set up a blog and five on how to write and submit an op-ed. As for how to write books or give lectures, the main reasons I picked up the book – those topics were not addressed at all. But if you want tips for how to adapt yourself to TV interviews versus print interviews, or how to set up a meeting with a senator, this is the book for you!
March 1, 2019
Yess!! This book is a fantastic resource!! When starting to read this, I thought it’d be for scientists wanting to switch careers away from non-research roles. However, I’d recommend this book for all scientists! Journalists and policymakers have discussions about science all the time, and this book encourages people with scientific training to play a role in the media’s narrative and provides guidelines for how to do so. I thought the chapters that were particular helpful were the ones about what scientists expect from policymakers/journalists vs. what policymakers/journalists expect from scientists. I also appreciated learning about how scientists have successfully responded to backlash from the public and special interest groups. I hope more scientists read this and are inspired to become more involved with science outreach and advocacy. This book would be a good supplement to a science communication course.
November 19, 2021
I am a molecular biologist, and the inaccessibility of science to the general public is of real concern for many of us in science fields. I have used this book to make tangible changes to the way I deliver scientific messages to various audiences, and I assigned parts of the book to undergraduates in one of my classes. They had a lot of positive things to say about this book; they found it easy to read and really useful. I haven't picked it up in a while, but even so I think about it often as the communication strategies discussed are applicable to many aspects of scientific work. I think this would be an interesting and approachable read for non-scientists too if they are interested in the relationship between laboratory science and society/policy.
February 17, 2021
I first bought this book because I am interested in how to best communicate science to the public. This book more specifically discusses how to communicate science to journalists and policy makers. Interestingly, it was not just advice like “don’t use jargon;” Baron also tries to explain the perspectives/experiences of journalists to scientists so that scientists can better understand how to work with them. Some aspects of the book are outdated given that it was written over a decade ago (so for example, I think if written now, I think twitter would have been brought up more), but most aspects are still incredibly relevant today.
June 25, 2025
The book is quite US-centric and has some parts that are a little outdated (i.e., discussions on social media), but its deeper messages still stand and I would say this is a sufficient guide for scientists who are interested in engaging the media and policymakers for the first time. The book also had several case studies and advice from climate, agricultural, and conservation scientists whose work led to actual shifts in policy.
*Will have to do a second round to collect my notes
*Will have to do a second round to collect my notes
October 21, 2019
Focused strictly in environmental sciences. The book has relatively few content on how to make your science public, and a lot of it is about a somewhat romantic notion of how journalists and politicians are.
March 14, 2019
Inspiring, intimidating, and interesting. I’ll be turning back to this one many times, I expect.
July 26, 2019
helpful
September 20, 2025
Read while completing nserc. Good book
September 6, 2011
The research scientists do often needs to be communicated to policy makers, the media, and the general public in order to be useful. Unfortunately, the way that scientists learn to communicate with their peers is generally diametrically opposed to how they need to communicate with those outside the scientific world. This book is aimed at helping them speak more effectively to the non-scientists among us.
Scientists and non-scientists frequently experience frustration and annoyance when trying to talk to each other about science. Scientists are trained to present their findings methodically, completely, starting with the question and the study design first, and reserving the conclusion for the end of their paper or presentation. They are trained to cite all prior work that they relied on. They are trained to present information unemotionally; they even write their papers in the passive voice.
This is all completely appropriate for scientific research and the academic world, and an utter disaster for communicating vital information effectively to politicians, journalists, and the general public. As the outreach director for COMPASS (Communications Partnership for Science and the Sea), Nancy Baron teaches public communication skills to scientists in the Aldo Leopold Leadership Program. This book is directed at making those skills more widely accessible. While she primarily has in mind environmental scientists, the essential points here are applicable to any scientists who need to talk about their science to journalists or policy makers, and through them, to the general public. It's a clear and highly readable book, that wastes no time in making its key points--which is, in itself, one of her key points.
Because scientific study design, fundraising, carrying out experiments, and academic publication naturally and unavoidably move slowly and take a lot of time, the high-pressure deadlines of journalism or the legislative process are unfamiliar to scientists. In journalism, publication or air time waits for no man In the legislative process, the total time to pass a bill may be long, but critical decisions often have short deadlines and the window of opportunity for someone who is not in the halls of Congress or state legislatures on a daily basis to affect the process are narrow. Senators and representatives have packed schedules every day that they're in Washington. Critical meetings may happen walking from one place to another. Scientists with no prior political experience may think they're being brushed off when asked to meet with a staffer, when in reality making a good connection with the staffer that handles your area of interest can be the most effective way of being heard in the policy-making process.
Another difficulty is that scientists are so aware of the uncertainties of science that they have a natural desire to qualify everything they say, outline areas of doubt, etc., when the journalist wanting to write a story or the the member of Congress wanting to know what legislation to push or how to vote on an upcoming bill really need to know what the scientist thinks and feels on the issue. If a point is well-supported and there's a scientific consensus behind it, that's what they need to know first, and after that, if there are valid questions or criticisms they need to know about those and who else they should talk to. They don't need, and can't use, information so heavily qualified with caveats and reservations that they don't know what the scientist really believes, or what he or she thinks should be done with the information, or why.
Being clear, being concise, leading with your conclusions, using everyday language rather than scientific jargon, showing some emotion, and giving clear and understandable examples are all essential to good communication. This is really helpful little volume that any scientist who might need or want to talk to non-scientific audiences can benefit by reading. Experts in other fields that don't routinely interact with a more general public, but might need to, can also benefit.
Recommended.
I received a free electronic galley of this book from the publisher via NetGalley.
Scientists and non-scientists frequently experience frustration and annoyance when trying to talk to each other about science. Scientists are trained to present their findings methodically, completely, starting with the question and the study design first, and reserving the conclusion for the end of their paper or presentation. They are trained to cite all prior work that they relied on. They are trained to present information unemotionally; they even write their papers in the passive voice.
This is all completely appropriate for scientific research and the academic world, and an utter disaster for communicating vital information effectively to politicians, journalists, and the general public. As the outreach director for COMPASS (Communications Partnership for Science and the Sea), Nancy Baron teaches public communication skills to scientists in the Aldo Leopold Leadership Program. This book is directed at making those skills more widely accessible. While she primarily has in mind environmental scientists, the essential points here are applicable to any scientists who need to talk about their science to journalists or policy makers, and through them, to the general public. It's a clear and highly readable book, that wastes no time in making its key points--which is, in itself, one of her key points.
Because scientific study design, fundraising, carrying out experiments, and academic publication naturally and unavoidably move slowly and take a lot of time, the high-pressure deadlines of journalism or the legislative process are unfamiliar to scientists. In journalism, publication or air time waits for no man In the legislative process, the total time to pass a bill may be long, but critical decisions often have short deadlines and the window of opportunity for someone who is not in the halls of Congress or state legislatures on a daily basis to affect the process are narrow. Senators and representatives have packed schedules every day that they're in Washington. Critical meetings may happen walking from one place to another. Scientists with no prior political experience may think they're being brushed off when asked to meet with a staffer, when in reality making a good connection with the staffer that handles your area of interest can be the most effective way of being heard in the policy-making process.
Another difficulty is that scientists are so aware of the uncertainties of science that they have a natural desire to qualify everything they say, outline areas of doubt, etc., when the journalist wanting to write a story or the the member of Congress wanting to know what legislation to push or how to vote on an upcoming bill really need to know what the scientist thinks and feels on the issue. If a point is well-supported and there's a scientific consensus behind it, that's what they need to know first, and after that, if there are valid questions or criticisms they need to know about those and who else they should talk to. They don't need, and can't use, information so heavily qualified with caveats and reservations that they don't know what the scientist really believes, or what he or she thinks should be done with the information, or why.
Being clear, being concise, leading with your conclusions, using everyday language rather than scientific jargon, showing some emotion, and giving clear and understandable examples are all essential to good communication. This is really helpful little volume that any scientist who might need or want to talk to non-scientific audiences can benefit by reading. Experts in other fields that don't routinely interact with a more general public, but might need to, can also benefit.
Recommended.
I received a free electronic galley of this book from the publisher via NetGalley.
October 4, 2010
For many science may rank slightly lower than jigsaw puzzling in the dull topics category, however few sectors have been so consistently dogged by controversy throughout human history.
The conflict is inevitably the same, while the specifics may vary: What scientific evidence shows us contracts what is commonly believed, and often wanted to be the truth, and resistance is felt through the concentrated oppositional effort of those in power (whether petrol companies, religious groups or governments) and the enforced ignorance of the general populace.
Escape from the Ivory Tower follows a trend of books that escape from the polemic section, and actually work on the issue of this disconnect from science, from the academics’ and researchers’ perspectives.
Rather than attack opponents of science, which admittedly must be tempting, but ultimately unhelpful – Ivory Tower focuses on what scientists can do to make their work more accessible, relevant and have a greater impact on ‘real’ life.
More formally written than books such as “Unscientific America” and “Don’t be Such a Scientist” Ivory Tower works more as a ‘how to’ book and probably doesn’t have much in it to attract non-scientists. Ivory Tower also mostly avoids commenting on some of the scientific controversy of modern times, so don’t expect an opinion on evolution or global warming beyond a discussion of how the science is presented.
I would still recommend a look in for those non-geeks interested in the sector and some of the issues surrounding science currently. In particular the chapter on backlash is fascinating, and there is advice valid for all people concerned with making scientifically valid arguments, even those of us who haven’t yet made it into any ivory towers!
The conflict is inevitably the same, while the specifics may vary: What scientific evidence shows us contracts what is commonly believed, and often wanted to be the truth, and resistance is felt through the concentrated oppositional effort of those in power (whether petrol companies, religious groups or governments) and the enforced ignorance of the general populace.
Escape from the Ivory Tower follows a trend of books that escape from the polemic section, and actually work on the issue of this disconnect from science, from the academics’ and researchers’ perspectives.
Rather than attack opponents of science, which admittedly must be tempting, but ultimately unhelpful – Ivory Tower focuses on what scientists can do to make their work more accessible, relevant and have a greater impact on ‘real’ life.
More formally written than books such as “Unscientific America” and “Don’t be Such a Scientist” Ivory Tower works more as a ‘how to’ book and probably doesn’t have much in it to attract non-scientists. Ivory Tower also mostly avoids commenting on some of the scientific controversy of modern times, so don’t expect an opinion on evolution or global warming beyond a discussion of how the science is presented.
I would still recommend a look in for those non-geeks interested in the sector and some of the issues surrounding science currently. In particular the chapter on backlash is fascinating, and there is advice valid for all people concerned with making scientifically valid arguments, even those of us who haven’t yet made it into any ivory towers!
October 23, 2015
As a public health scientist, I’m very much interested in the ability to translate my work into something that can help the general population. This book aims to teach scientists about science communication, and it does quite a good job at that. A few pages in and I’m already super impressed by this book because Donald Kennedy – former editor-in-chief of Science – wrote the foreword. The book is also full of tips-and-tricks boxes, pictures, and tables for those who want to skim through. I was also amused by how “scientists” and “journalists” are displayed almost like different beasts on Discovery channel, as exemplified by the following passage:
However, I do dislike the cover and the title of this book. At first, I found both to be very clever an humorous, but they don’t match the significance or the urgency of the content. Escape from the Ivory Tower has the potential to be a must-read reference for all graduate students who are doing scientific research, but I’m sure few would take it seriously from just the packaging.
Paper Breathers (Book Reviews & Discussions)
Scientists, as a breed, seem genetically incapable of using simple language when complex jargon will do. Why talk about an animal’s form and structure when you can just say morphology?
If you want to watch a journalist lean forward, remember the magic words, “Let me tell you a story…”
However, I do dislike the cover and the title of this book. At first, I found both to be very clever an humorous, but they don’t match the significance or the urgency of the content. Escape from the Ivory Tower has the potential to be a must-read reference for all graduate students who are doing scientific research, but I’m sure few would take it seriously from just the packaging.
Paper Breathers (Book Reviews & Discussions)
February 16, 2021
Antes de empezar el libro pensé que iba dirigido a científicos que luego de una carrera académica querían cambiar de rumbo y dedicarse específica y exclusivamente al área de la comunicación científica. Pero el libro de Nancy Baron, aunque puede iniciarte en ese camino, es principalmente útil para científicos en cualquier etapa, de cualquier rama, y con cualquier futuro en mente. A todos en algún momento nos toca explicar qué hacemos ya sea al colega de otra rama, a la oficina de comunicaciones de la universidad, a periodistas ó incluso si tu ciencia tiene implicaciones directas en algún momento a la creación de políticas públicas o legislación.
Es un libro muy ameno y con muchos ejemplos reales, dividido en el trato científicos-periodistas, científicos-políticos, y cómo adaptar la manera de comunicar nuestro mensaje principal sin perder la oportunidad y sin perder el punto. También es una guía de cómo planificar mejor la manera de redactar artículos (tanto científicos como populares, blogs, etc), y sobre cómo prepararnos mejor para entrevistas de distintos sectores. Aunque es disfrutable leerlo de inicio a fin (y lo recomendaría la primera vez), el libro fácilmente queda como una guía rápida a la cual podemos regresar a buscar tips específicos en cualquier momento en el que lo necesitemos.
Es un libro muy ameno y con muchos ejemplos reales, dividido en el trato científicos-periodistas, científicos-políticos, y cómo adaptar la manera de comunicar nuestro mensaje principal sin perder la oportunidad y sin perder el punto. También es una guía de cómo planificar mejor la manera de redactar artículos (tanto científicos como populares, blogs, etc), y sobre cómo prepararnos mejor para entrevistas de distintos sectores. Aunque es disfrutable leerlo de inicio a fin (y lo recomendaría la primera vez), el libro fácilmente queda como una guía rápida a la cual podemos regresar a buscar tips específicos en cualquier momento en el que lo necesitemos.
Read
February 16, 2016This book is a really great resource for scientists. It details various ways that scientists can share their knowledge in different environment, and the best ways for them to do so. Having a science background, I started the book on the defensive. The further I read, however, the more I was won over by the practical advice, no-nonsense tone, and plethora of concrete examples from real-life cases. This book helps scientists to translate their often highly technical and specialized knowledge into something relatable among journalists, policymakers, and the public at large. Scientists as a rule tend to be self-employed, but we are no longer living in a world where scientists can operate in a vacuum and succeed. Translating science into understandable experiences and helping citizens to understand why science is important to them is paramount. We cannot complain about the ignorance of the populace, but must work instead to ensure that science remains dynamic, relatable, exciting, and valuable in an immediate sense. This book emphasizes all the ways in which scientists can accomplish this task. Highly recommended.
May 13, 2015
This was the required reading for Karen MacLeod's Z599 seminar at Oregon State "Making Your Science Matter: Communicating Science". It's not coincidental that the course and this book's subtitle are similar; both Nancy and Karen work for COMPASS, an organization dedicated to smoothing the relationships between scientists and the media (or really, just teaching scientists how to talk better to nonscientists). If you can't go to the seminar or attend a COMPASS workshop, this book covers much of the same ground, including the importance of the Message Box for figuring out your audience (and why they should care), how to handle social media, and other necessary tools for reaching out beyond the Ivory Tower.
I do think the title's a liiiiitle bit of a misnomer, since the book is on how to talk to nonspecialists, not how to run away screaming from academia. However, it's memorable and paints a distinct picture in your mind.
I'd recommend this for any scientist or specialist who will encounter someone outside their field (so basically, everyone).
I do think the title's a liiiiitle bit of a misnomer, since the book is on how to talk to nonspecialists, not how to run away screaming from academia. However, it's memorable and paints a distinct picture in your mind.
I'd recommend this for any scientist or specialist who will encounter someone outside their field (so basically, everyone).
March 14, 2012
This is an excellent book on training scientists to communicate with the outside world. Nancy Barron, et.al., gives a no nonsense look into the media and how those of us who know almost nothing (good) about the media can benefit from using it. I am very impressed and will be talking to the scientists that I work with about it.
Escape From The Ivory Tower is an easy read. This should be expected as that is the point Barron tries to make through the book. Making science into something easy to explain is very hard. We have our own nomenclature for each sub-specialty. We pick each individual word out to mean exactly what we want when we craft papers. One misuse of a word can make your science street cred collapse with colleagues.
Taking our work and communicating it in simple language is the opposite of what we are taught. It is also exactly what we have to do to get our points across to lay people and to media. It's tough and the author has made the task easier. That is why I would recommend the book to scientists and technologists.
Escape From The Ivory Tower is an easy read. This should be expected as that is the point Barron tries to make through the book. Making science into something easy to explain is very hard. We have our own nomenclature for each sub-specialty. We pick each individual word out to mean exactly what we want when we craft papers. One misuse of a word can make your science street cred collapse with colleagues.
Taking our work and communicating it in simple language is the opposite of what we are taught. It is also exactly what we have to do to get our points across to lay people and to media. It's tough and the author has made the task easier. That is why I would recommend the book to scientists and technologists.
June 16, 2015
Nancy Baron provides an excellent resource for those who wish to communicate their academic work to a broader audience. The first part (chapters 1 & 2) provides the rationale for broadening your audience. Part 2 (chapters 3-7) details the difference between academic thinking and the motivations of politicians, journalists, and the broader public. It is important to note that Nancy avoids the typical assumption that those outside of academic need to be taught how to think or lectured to. Instead she describes the very valid reasons behind the the different "cultures."
Part 3 (chapters 8-13) provide a much-needed tool kit for a variety of communication types including print, blogging, radio, and the most dreaded TV. Part 4 (chapters 14 & 15) provide a wrap-up and advice regarding the inevitable backlash academics will experience when addressing a broader audience.
Overall this is a much needed manual for any academic hoping to have impact.
Part 3 (chapters 8-13) provide a much-needed tool kit for a variety of communication types including print, blogging, radio, and the most dreaded TV. Part 4 (chapters 14 & 15) provide a wrap-up and advice regarding the inevitable backlash academics will experience when addressing a broader audience.
Overall this is a much needed manual for any academic hoping to have impact.
April 16, 2014
Escape from the Ivory Tower is an excellent guide written for environmental scientists, relevant for all scientists who should and have to interact with the non-scientific community, and - most important - applicable to anyone who has to explain in lay terms what it is that they do, why they do it and why it is important to anyone else. Ms. Baron's engaging, encouraging and optimistic guide to making what matters to scientists matter to the audience beyond academia or the lab is critical to making the work relevant in the "real", messy human world - the place where positive changes can and have to occur.
I'm already planning to gift this book to people on the front lines whose work is excellent and well intentioned but whose message is muddled.
Excellent, excellent read.
I'm already planning to gift this book to people on the front lines whose work is excellent and well intentioned but whose message is muddled.
Excellent, excellent read.
August 13, 2015
Back when I thought I might still become a research-heavy academic, I picked this up to learn how to do more with that research, and this book delivered! Baron does a great job of breaking down all the different professional interactions you might have with TV, radio, and newspaper journalists. What do they want from you? What should you be aware of during an interview, to get your message across and to be easy to work with? She includes first person passages from journalists and outspoken scientists about their experiences, which offer a great glimpse into those working relationships. Last, while Baron's examples often pull from her ecology background, the lessons are easy to generalize.
November 18, 2013
A great book on how to use the media. I found it especially enlightening considering my masters degree and immediately reccomended it to fellow students. Not only does it show how scientists communicate poorly, but it also indicates how they can improve. Conveying information can be challanging, but Baron makes it easy to pinpoint the issues and deal with them.
May 16, 2016
Absolutely super helpful for anyone in science! This book gives a nice overview of how and why scientist should get out of the ivory tower or bubble that they are normally in and start communicating to the general public, journalists and policy makers. Only thing that might be more helpful than this book is attending the workshop on which it is based, but this is a nice introduction for sure ;)
March 21, 2011
This book has lots of good ideas and tips for conveying science to the public or journalists or other media. It was also a very enjoyable read overall.
March 24, 2011
An EXCELLENT book. It is basically a how-to guide to dealing with the media, communicating effectively with non-scientists, promoting papers and getting involved in the political fray.
February 4, 2013
This was a dry read but contained a lot of information to help me in my work.
September 20, 2013
I'm starting to browse around for post-graduation options, and I'm not sure I want to stay in academia. I've got a lot to think about...
January 2, 2015
Highly recommended book for researchers. It contains a lot of information and new ideas on how to disseminate beyond the research journal. Good stories and interviews with scientists. Must read.
October 4, 2022
Very useful and clear approach to science communication to journalists and policymakers.
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