Welcome!
The 9th annual ComSciCon Flagship Workshop took place virtually August 4-7, 2021. Stay tuned for announcements about our 2022 events!
Follow us on Twitter and tweet with the hashtag #ComSciCon21.
For more information, please contact comscicon21@comscicon.org.
About ComSciCon 2021
ComSciCon provides graduate student attendees with a one-of-a-kind opportunity to meet early career leaders in Science Communication, learn from and interact with a remarkable group of invited experts, and produce an original work communicating complex technical concepts from science and engineering to a new audience.
At ComSciCon’s Flagship Workshop, participants build communication skills that scientists and other technical professionals need to express ideas to their peers, experts in other fields, and the general public.
Ample time is allocated for networking with science communication experts and developing science outreach collaborations with fellow workshop participants. Workshop participants will produce an original piece of science writing and receive feedback from workshop attendees and professional science communicators, including journalists, authors, public policy advocates, educators, and more.
Founded in 2012 by graduate students at Harvard University, MIT, and the University of Colorado at Boulder, nearly 3000 graduate students nationwide have already participated in ComSciCon programs, including our annual Flagship Workshops and Franchise Workshops which have been started by ComSciCon alumni across the US and Canada. Attendees have founded new science communication organizations in collaboration with other students at the event, published over 80 articles written at the conference in popular publications with national impact, and formed lasting networks with our student alumni and invited experts.
Sponsors
We are grateful to all ComSciCon’s sponsors who are making our 2021 Flagship event possible.
Apply to ComSciCon-Flagship 2021
ComSciCon 2021 will be held virtually from August 4-7, 2021.
The deadline to apply for ComSciCon 2021 has now passed. Successful applicants have already been notified.
If you were unsuccessful, please consider applying for ComSciCon-Flagship 2022.
Eligibility
Attendance at ComSciCon is limited to current (or recently graduated) graduate students in residence at US or Canadian institutions. International students who study at US and Canadian institutions are gladly welcomed. Recent graduates must have graduated no earlier than December 2020.
ComSciCon applications are competitive and we encourage applicants to prepare their responses with care.
Application, registration, and attendance at the workshop is free of charge for accepted applicants. Attendees to ComSciCon are required to complete pre-workshop requirements, and to attend the entire 3-day workshop.
We encourage women, minorities (minoritized identities), and members of the LGBTQIA+ communities to apply. ComSciCon is committed to diversity and equity, and encourages all people to apply to the conference. Accommodations can be provided upon request for people with disabilities. We will provide opportunities to request specific accommodations after the selection process for attendees is complete.
Pre-Workshop Requirements
ComSciCon’s Flagship Workshop is a highly interactive and cooperative event. For instance, several of the sessions include group workshopping of already-developed science communication pieces.
All accepted attendees to ComSciCon 2021 are expected to complete the following in advance of attending the workshop. Keep checking back for additional details of each requirement.
Write-A-Thon
Through the “Write-A-Thon”, ComSciCon attendees develop science communication pieces and workshop them extensively with fellow attendees and science communication experts. Many of these pieces are later published in major science communication outlets. We will be accepting additional submission formats this year (video, comic, podcast, other) in addition to written submissions.
Timeline:
- July 15, 2021: Rough draft due (600-800 word piece + pitch in one document)
- July 22, 2021: Peer edits due
- July 29, 2021: Revised draft due
Poster (Optional)
We are excited to announce that this year, ComSciCon is hosting an ePoster (i.e., virtual poster) session!
Poster sessions are an ideal way to share a science communication endeavour you’re involved with, and they are great opportunities to network and collaborate with other attendees. Many fantastic new projects and initiatives have sprouted from discussions begun at previous ComSciCon poster sessions.
Note that these posters should NOT be on your scientific research. They should be on a project, initiative, or organisation involving science outreach, advocacy, education, etc.
You can see examples of successful abstracts from 2016’s program here: http://comscicon.com/files/comscicon/files/comscicon2016_poster_abstracts.pdf.
If you’re interested, submit an abstract by Saturday July 10, 2021 @ 23:59 E.T. here: https://forms.gle/hfZ7oRaTrZUwnJfw5.
Accepted abstracts will be notified by Monday July 12, 2021. Please note that there are no charges or fees for submitting or presenting an ePoster.
If your abstract is accepted, you will be given further instructions. You can present in any format/way you think is best (whether that is through videos, a traditional one-slide poster, multiple slides, or something completely different).
We encourage all ComSciCon 2021 attendees to apply for a poster slot!
Timeline:
- July 10, 2021: Abstract submission deadline
- July 12, 2021: Selected abstracts will be notified
- July 25, 2021: Poster design submission deadline
- July 26, 2021 – July 29, 2021: Review of Poster submissions
- July 30, 2021: Selected ePosters and presentation details will be shared with all attendees
- July 30, 2021: Final instructions and comments for presenters
- August 4, 2021: Poster Session at ComSciCon-Flagship 2021
Evaluation Surveys
ComSciCon is interested in learning more about how best to improve science communication training. We evaluate our performance through surveys before, immediately following, and 6-months after the workshop.
Details : The pre-workshop survey will be available upon acceptance to ComSciCon 2021.
Timeline:
- 2 weeks prior to conference: Complete pre-workshop survey
- At conference: Complete post-workshop survey
- Late 2021: Complete follow-up survey
Workshop Program and Logistical Information
Full PDF Program
Schedule
Wednesday August 4, 2021
11 AM – 5 PM ET
11 AM – 12 PM: Opening Remarks and Introductions
12 PM – 1 PM: Diversity and Inclusivity Panel
1 PM – 1:30 PM: Break
1:30 PM – 2 PM: Pop Talks
2 PM – 3 PM: Posters (see below)
3 PM – 3:30 PM: Break
3:30 PM – 5 PM: Data Visualisation Workshop
Thursday August 5, 2021
11 AM – 5 PM ET
11 AM – 12 PM: Networking Session (Optional, tentative)
12 PM – 1 PM: Creative Storytelling Panel
1 PM – 1:30 PM: Break
1:30 PM – 2 PM: Pop Talks
2 PM – 3 PM: “Getting to the Heart of Science Communication” Discussion
3 PM – 3:30 PM: Break
3:30 PM – 5 PM: Write-a-Thon Expert Review
Friday August 6, 2021
11 AM – 5 PM ET
11 AM – 12 PM: Networking Session (Optional, tentative)
12 PM – 1 PM: Science Policy/Advocacy Panel
1 PM – 1:30 PM: Break
1:30 PM – 2:30 PM: Keynote Speaker
2:30 PM – 3 PM: Break
3 PM – 3:30 PM: Pop Talks
4:00 PM – ??: Social Event/Networking Session (Optional, tetnative depending on interest)
Saturday August 7, 2021
12 PM – 3 PM ET
12 PM – 12:30 PM: How to Stay connected with ComSciCon
12:30 PM – 1:30 PM: Careers Panel
1:30 PM – 3 PM: Creative Storytelling Workshop
3 PM – 3:10 PM: Closing Remarks
E-poster Abstracts
All abstracts
Dr. Aisulu Aitbekova
Albersy Armina-Rodríguez
Alexa Ruel
Alyssa Paparella
Emily Geest
Inayah Entzminger
Jamie Moffa
Malosree Maitra
Dr. Melissa Molho
Micahel Hammer
Mostofa Kamal
Nadia Lana
Ralph White III
(transcript)
Suchitra Narayanan
Dr. Sumitra Phatak
Toby Le
Code of Conduct
ComSciCon is committed to providing a safe, hospitable, and productive environment for everyone present, regardless of race or ethnicity, religion, ability, socioeconomic status, age, physical appearance, economic or professional status, country of origin, sex, gender or gender expression, or sexuality. A conference where people feel uncomfortable or threatened is not productive, nor tolerable. Accordingly, ComSciCon prohibits intimidating, threatening, or harassing conduct during our conference and is committed to creating and maintaining a safe environment for everyone during the workshop. This policy applies to speakers, organizers, expert reviewers, and attendees, and by participating in ComSciCon, you agree to adhere to this policy.
ComSciCon expects that participants will:
- Be considerate and respectful to all community members.
- Refrain from demeaning, discriminatory, or harassing behavior, materials, and speech (more below).
- Speak up if they observe anything at an event that conflicts with this Code of Conduct. If you are being harassed or feel uncomfortable, notice that someone else is being harassed, or have any other concerns, please contact a member of the ComSciCon organizing team immediately.
Unacceptable behavior from any community member will not be tolerated. Unacceptable behavior includes, but is not limited to:
- Intimidating, harassing, abusive, discriminatory, derogatory, or demeaning speech, materials, or conduct by any Participants of the event and related event activities. Many event venues are shared with members of the public; please be respectful to all patrons of these locations.
- Violence, threats of violence, or violent language directed against another person.
- Failure to obey any rules or regulations of the event venue.
Harassment of participants will not be tolerated in any form. Harassment includes:
- Offensive verbal or written comments related to gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, age, religion, national origin, affinity group, etc.
- Viewing or sharing sexual images in public spaces.
- Deliberate or perceived intimidation, stalking, or following.
- Harassing or non consensual photography or recording.
- Sustained disruption of talks or other events.
- Inappropriate physical contact.
- Unwelcome sexual attention.
- Advocating for, or encouraging, any of the above behavior.
Participants asked to stop any harassing behavior are expected to comply immediately. If a participant engages in harassing behavior, ComSciCon organizers will take any action they deem appropriate, ranging from a verbal warning to expulsion from the conference, to contacting local authorities.
ComSciCon organizers may take action to address any behavior disrupting the conference or making the environment hostile for any participants. We expect participants to follow these rules at all conference events and ComSciCon-related social activities.
If you are being harassed, notice that someone else is being harassed, or have any other concerns, please contact a member of the conference staff immediately (by email at the designated confidential address comscicon21-coc@comscicon.org). Organizers will be available to assist anyone experiencing unacceptable behavior and will work to help you feel safe for the duration of the event. All reports will be held as confidential by ComSciCon event organizers.
We value your attendance, and want to make the conference experience as educational, productive, and fun as possible.
ComSciCon 