Lincoln, Neb. —The Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln has launched a new IANR Science Communication Hub.
The concept for a science communication hub evolved from the Department of Agronomy and Horticulture’s Scientific Writing Help Desk. The IANR Science Communication Hub supports the IANR Community -- students, postdocs, faculty, and staff -- to reach their scientific writing and science communication goals.
Christine Booth, lecturer in the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources and the Agricultural Research Division, will lead the effort, which will initially focus on graduate student education.
“I am very excited about the hub’s potential to bring together our world-class UNL community to keep building on our existing communication strengths. Ultimately, we want to increase the impact of the science we do in IANR by sharing our ideas and findings more effectively with each other, and with the broader community,” said Booth.
The IANR Science Communications Hub will seek to foster collaboration across the institute and equip the next generation of scientists to be effective scientific writers and communicators. Booth will provide individual consultations and group programming for graduate students, curate resources for students, faculty and staff, and facilitate community building. As part of the launch, a webpage has been developed, which IANR students can visit to schedule appointments, submit work for review and find resources. For more information about schedules and location of in-person meetings, students can subscribe to the sit-down-and-write listserv on the website’s home page.
“In our information-driven world, it is increasingly important for researchers to be able to effectively communicate about their research and its impact,” said CASNR Dean Tiffany Heng-Moss. “Our new Science Communications Hub will help our students hone their writing and other communications skills so they are equipped to effectively share their work with their colleagues, our stakeholders, and the public.”
Booth received a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Pretoria, as well as a master’s degree in chemical engineering, and a doctorate in biochemistry from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.
Her area of focus within IANR is STEM education, and scientific writing and communication. Booth currently instructs Agronomy/Horticulture 403/803 Scientific Writing and Communication and co-instructs Agronomy/Horticulture 496/896 Outreach Communications.