I was at a great poster session today. What is a poster session you might ask? Poster sessions for scientists are gatherings where scientists summarize their latest research in the form of a large poster (usually 6’ x 4‘). The posters get hung up around a room and people talk science. It’s great way to see the latest science in a particular field and an opportunity to talk to the scientists who conducted the research (they are the people standing next to their poster drinking a beer). These sessions are great fun, and I always learn a lot. It’s actually great for the poster presenters as well since they usually come away with a deeper understanding of their work and have new ideas for experiments they can conduct to extend their research.
I wonder if a session would work if scientists had a poster session for non-scientists? Would this work as a way to get more people interested in the latest scientific research? Would this work as a way for scientists to educate people about technical fields they have little knowledge about? What could the scientists learn from the non-scientists? Would there be enough beer to make this work?
Sounds a bit crazy, but it’s an interesting idea. Anyone know of anything like this? Anyone want to try to do this?
Dan Koralek said:
Someone I know had forwarded an article about a program that Emory has on encouraging students to have 100-word summaries of their dissertations that “a friend who wasn’t in their field” might be able to understand (http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=26&storycode=416168&c=1). It’s challenging, but I think has similar issues with posters for non-scienfitic audiences.
on May 25, 2011 at 4:10 pm
Frank Spriggs said:
I LOVE this idea, I think this is a great way to educate the non-scientific public on what Pfizer does and the breadth of science required to take a drug from idea to pill/injection. Additionally, I think this is a wonderful opportunity to engage some of the younger generation to excite those who are interested in science, but may be on the fence if biology and chemistry is something to pursue.
I am also a big fan of doing road shows to local high schools and community colleges for the same purpose…excite future talent!
on May 25, 2011 at 9:50 am
Felix Vajdos said:
Hi Adam,
Actually, I think a poster session is still a bit too stifled and technical for a non-expert crowd. At a minimum, we need to make ourselves more available to the community at large, and be willing to comment/explain things that may be on the periphery of our field, rather than just trying to make someone understand what we do. I saw a piece on CPTV the other night on Oppenheimer and the Manhattan project in WWII. What struck me was that the public was totally awestruck by not only the technology of the nuclear age and the promise it offered, but also Oppenheimer as a public figure. The guy was a rock star! And local university physicists were called on to explain the technology at Rotary clubs, churches, schools, town councils, etc…. My point is, that we have to meet the public where they are in their understanding, and in order to do that, we have to be willing to step out of our comfort zone. Good topic.
on May 25, 2011 at 8:50 am
Suchitra Ananthnarayan said:
Starting a poster session that showcases work by non-scientists is a great idea. At my alma mater USC, we had an annual symposium for creative and scholarly work. There were research posters presented in social sciences, arts, music, science, medical sciences, etc. We can start something similar at Pfizer maybe with these categories for each therapeutic area, i.e. oncology, ophthalmology: bioinformatics, business unit, research unit, comparative medicine, clinical trials and these categories can include work by post-marketing, new indications, patient advocacy, drug safety, pharmacogenomics, etc. Thank you.
on May 24, 2011 at 6:19 pm
Brian Nunnally said:
Interesting idea Adam! How would we get non-scientists to attend? Perhaps we could hold it in a mall (I say that with all seriousness). No matter what you put in a mall, it will be popular (there are lots of no talent hacks who did mall tours when I was growing up!). Would people stop to listen to scientists discuss their work if they did a poster session in a mall? I think they would. Plus, the local press would be there, so the coverage would be broader.
On a side note, I went to a history symposium last Friday. In the sciences we often say “I am going to read (or present) a paper at a conference”. This would involve preparing a slide deck and being ready to speak to the slides. Well, these folks prepared papers and then read them aloud! I was shocked!!! Where were the powerpoints? Where were the key points, the pictures of the characters?!? I think we scientists have the presentation piece down well. I would care to see more frank discussion and challenging (we are too nice!) than we currently do.
on May 24, 2011 at 12:13 pm