What Is A Flame? from Alphachimp Studio Inc. on Vimeo.

Actor and science advocate Alan Alda invites scientists, teachers, and others who care about science communication to join in the discussion of one of the vital questions of our time: how to help society understand science better. Alan will report on intriguing—and sometimes surprising—results from the Flame Challenge, a worldwide contest that asked scientists to explain a flame in terms that would engage an 11-year-old. More than 6,000 11-year-olds judged the entries, but their responses provide lessons for scientists communicating with audiences of any age. We will discuss innovative techniques pioneered by the Center for Communicating Science at Stony Brook University, where scientists are learning communication skills as a fundamental part of their science education.

Along with our collaborators at FabLab, our animation received honorable mention.

Jeanne Garbarino is a postdoctoral scientist in biochemistry at Rockefeller University, Deborah Berebichez is a physicist who works in financial risk analysis, and Perrin is a graphic science communicator at Alphachimp Studio.

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