Science Communication Portfolio

This guide serves as a template for science communication, using sea level rise as a case study to demonstrate how to tailor scientific information for various audiences and formats. It outlines a four-step process for planning communication: setting goals, understanding the audience, defining take-home messages, and creating a core 'And, But, Therefore' statement. The portfolio includes practical examples of verbal modules (sound bites, elevator pitches, and presentations) and written modules (Twitter, Facebook, policymaker memos, op-eds, and blogs). Additionally, it provides technical guidance on presentation design and audience engagement to ensure scientific messages are accessible and actionable.

• The document outlines a strategic framework for science communication consisting of four steps: identifying communication goals, understanding the audience, defining 'take-home' messages, and establishing an 'And, But, Therefore' statement.
• For the specific topic of sea level rise, the document argues that the issue is accelerating particularly along the U.S. East Coast and Gulf of Mexico, and that cities should integrate this data into coastal planning and invest in flood-proofing infrastructure to increase resilience.
• The guide highlights significant health risks associated with flooding caused by sea level rise, including drowning during driving, contamination of drinking water, sewage back-ups, and the growth of toxic mold in buildings.
• The document provides specific technical 'Ground Rules' for presentations to improve accessibility, such as using sans serif fonts of at least 24 points, avoiding red/green color combinations for color-blind viewers, and limiting slides to 3-4 points and a maximum of 40 words.

APA

Wood-Charlson, E. M., & Varga, M. (2015). Science Communication Portfolio. Union of Concerned Scientists. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/attach/2015/04/Science%20Communication%20Portfolio%20Sample.pdf

Chicago

Wood-Charlson, Elisha M., and Melissa Varga. Science Communication Portfolio. Union of Concerned Scientists, 2015. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/attach/2015/04/Science%20Communication%20Portfolio%20Sample.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Wood-Charlson |first1=Elisha M. |last2=Varga |first2=Melissa |title=Science Communication Portfolio |publisher=Union of Concerned Scientists |date=2 April 2015 |url=https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/attach/2015/04/Science%20Communication%20Portfolio%20Sample.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{woodcharlson2015science, author = {Wood-Charlson, Elisha M. and Varga, Melissa}, title = {{Science Communication Portfolio}}, institution = {Union of Concerned Scientists}, year = {2015}, month = apr, url = {https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/attach/2015/04/Science%20Communication%20Portfolio%20Sample.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }