Do’s and don’ts of effective science communication

The document outlines a series of 'do's and don'ts' for science communication, emphasizing the need to move away from abstract, numerical, and overly technical data in favor of personal stories, local examples, and constructive visions of the future.

• Effective science communication for mainstream audiences requires minimizing the use of statistics, graphs, and technical language, as many people struggle with basic numerical comprehension.
• Communicators should avoid abstract or distant threats and instead focus on proximity, personal narratives, and the real-world meaning of data.
• To avoid negative audience responses, communicators should balance the 'doom and gloom' of climate change with discussions of opportunity and positive, constructive responses.

APA

Climate Outreach (2017). Do’s and don’ts of effective science communication. https://climateoutreach.org/helix-effective-science-communication/

Chicago

Climate Outreach. Do’s and don’ts of effective science communication. 2017. https://climateoutreach.org/helix-effective-science-communication/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Climate Outreach |title=Do’s and don’ts of effective science communication |date=30 October 2017 |url=https://climateoutreach.org/helix-effective-science-communication/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{climateoutreach2017dos, author = {{Climate Outreach}}, title = {{Do’s and don’ts of effective science communication}}, institution = {Climate Outreach}, year = {2017}, month = oct, url = {https://climateoutreach.org/helix-effective-science-communication/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }