ELEVEN TENETS OF
CHAMPIONING SCIENCE

ELEVEN TENETS OF
CHAMPIONING SCIENCE

Be passionate. Palpable enthusiasm is contagious. It will carry people along for the great ride of science. Sharing what inspires you about your work will help others see the potential.
Build the big picture first. Resist the temptation to dive into the details. Frame what you say by succinctly explaining what exists today, the future possibilities, and how your work will fill the gap.
Know who’s listening. Think carefully about what your audience knows and their prevailing sentiment. Determine what you want them to think, do, and feel after they hear from you. Find out how they like to receive information and adapt accordingly.
Spend more time on why it matters, and less time on how you do it. Never promote science for the mere sake of science. Always demonstrate the value to people and the planet we inhabit.
Extract the essence. Formulate your overarching messages and support points. Tell that story. Never dumb it down.
Be understandable. Use plain, common language. Avoid or translate acronyms. Start from where your audience is, not where you are. Use iconic references to anchor scientific concepts to everyday familiar experience.
Balance precision with impact. Choose language carefully to be clear and directionally accurate. Long phrases bog the listener down. Think and speak in short sentences. There is no need for hype. Learn to tell a compelling story.
Be human and credible. The integrity of your word must be unquestionable. Verify your facts. Evaluate your sources. Be yourself. Make an emotional connection by showing up as a person first, a scientist second.
Influence patiently. Convincing decision makers is a process, not a single act of persuasion. Use information as a gift. Engage often to build understanding and show the value of supporting your science. Learn what matters to your audience.
Collaborate thoughtfully. Advancing your ideas doesn’t mean you have to go it alone. Seek out advisors, influencers, and partners who can help carry your science further.
Enable your listeners to act. Know the purpose of your communication. Make the ask, every time. Leverage each conversation and presentation to build support for advancing your work. Remember you are ultimately building relationships for the long run.

ELEVEN TENETS OF
CHAMPIONING SCIENCE

ELEVEN TENETS OF
CHAMPIONING SCIENCE

Be passionate. Palpable enthusiasm is contagious. It will carry people along for the great ride of science. Sharing what inspires you about your work will help others see the potential.

Build the big picture first. Resist the temptation to dive into the details. Frame what you say by succinctly explaining what exists today, the future possibilities, and how your work will fill the gap.

Know who’s listening. Think carefully about what your audience knows and their prevailing sentiment. Determine what you want them to think, do, and feel after they hear from you. Find out how they like to receive information and adapt accordingly.

Spend more time on why it matters, and less time on how you do it. Never promote science for the mere sake of science. Always demonstrate the value to people and the planet we inhabit.

Extract the essence. Formulate your overarching messages and support points. Tell that story. Never dumb it down.

Be understandable. Use plain, common language. Avoid or translate acronyms. Start from where your audience is, not where you are. Use iconic references to anchor scientific concepts to everyday familiar experience.

Balance precision with impact. Choose language carefully to be clear and directionally accurate. Long phrases bog the listener down. Think and speak in short sentences. There is no need for hype. Learn to tell a compelling story.

**Be human and credible.** The integrity of your word must be unquestionable. Verify your facts. Evaluate your sources. Be yourself. Make an emotional connection by showing up as a person first, a scientist second.

Influence patiently. Convincing decision makers is a process, not a single act of persuasion. Use information as a gift. Engage often to build understanding and show the value of supporting your science. Learn what matters to your audience.

Collaborate thoughtfully. Advancing your ideas doesn’t mean you have to go it alone. Seek out advisors, influencers, and partners who can help carry your science further.

Enable your listeners to act. Know the purpose of your communication. Make the ask, every time. Leverage each conversation and presentation to build support for advancing your work. Remember you are ultimately building relationships for the long run.

ELEVEN TENETS OF CHAMPIONING SCIENCE

ELEVEN TENETS OF CHAMPIONING SCIENCE

Be passionate. Palpable enthusiasm is contagious. It will carry people along for the great ride of science. Sharing what inspires you about your work will help others see the potential.

Build the big picture first. Resist the temptation to dive into the details. Frame what you say by succinctly explaining what exists today, the future possibilities, and how your work will fill the gap.

Know who’s listening. Think carefully about what your audience knows and their prevailing sentiment. Determine what you want them to think, do, and feel after they hear from you. Find out how they like to receive information and adapt accordingly.

Spend more time on why it matters, and less time on how you do it. Never promote science for the mere sake of science. Always demonstrate the value to people and the planet we inhabit.

Extract the essence. Formulate your overarching messages and support points. Tell that story. Never dumb it down.

Be understandable. Use plain, common language. Avoid or translate acronyms. Start from where your audience is, not where you are. Use iconic references to anchor scientific concepts to everyday familiar experience.

Balance precision with impact. Choose language carefully to be clear and directionally accurate. Long phrases bog the listener down. Think and speak in short sentences. There is no need for hype. Learn to tell a compelling story.

Be human and credible. The integrity of your word must be unquestionable. Verify your facts. Evaluate your sources. Be yourself. Make an emotional connection by showing up as a person first, a scientist second.

Influence patiently. Convincing decision makers is a process, not a single act of persuasion. Use information as a gift. Engage often to build understanding and show the value of supporting your science. Learn what matters to your audience.

Collaborate thoughtfully. Advancing your ideas doesn’t mean you have to go it alone. Seek out advisors, influencers, and partners who can help carry your science further.

Enable your listeners to act. Know the purpose of your communication. Make the ask, every time. Leverage each conversation and presentation to build support for advancing your work. Remember you are ultimately building relationships for the long run.

ELEVEN TENETS OF
CHAMPIONING SCIENCE

ELEVEN TENETS OF
CHAMPIONING SCIENCE

**Be human and credible.** The integrity of your word must be unquestionable. Verify your facts. Evaluate your sources. Be yourself. Make an emotional connection by showing up as a person first, a scientist second.