As research in science continues to move forward, it becomes increasingly important for scientists to convey information to the general public, educating them on new and important discoveries. With its faculty and students at the forefront of some of these innovations, as well as a convenient proximity to Research Triangle Park, N.C . State is playing a pivotal role in this effort.

Due to a strong resolve to improve communication of scientific ideas in the coming year, 2012 has been deemed the Year of Science Communication. A collaboration of events across the state will embody this idea thanks to Steve Townsend, dean’s office director at the College of Physical and Mathematical Science, who realized the connection between science and communication and brought them together.

“This is a science hub anyway, but look at all the stuff we’re doing in the next year to talk about it–to actually try to figure out ways to better communicate about science and execute that,” Townsend said.

The first event, Jan. 19 – 21, is an annual triangle area event called Science Online. The public showed its support by signing up and filling the registry, moving the event from its old location in the Research Triangle Park, to the McKimmon Center.

Matt Shipman , public communication specialist and science writer, says the event is all inclusive and incredibly diverse.

“It brings together a wide variety of people who are extremely interested either professionally or as side projects in communicating to the public about science. So those include active researchers, professors, students, reporters, bloggers, artists…all of whom to some extent or another are involved in communicating about science to the public,” Shipman said.

Karl Bates, director of research communications at Duke University, is especially excited for the Science Online event.

“It’s kind of like homecoming. This is their annual face-to-face meeting. A great portion of the science bloggers are located in the triangle,” Bates said.

The next event is the second North Carolina Science Festival, coordinated by the Moorehead Planetarium in Chapel Hill, and will take place April 13 through 29 statewide. Director of the NC Science Festival highlighted the value of this event.

“It’s the first, and currently the only, statewide celebration of its kind in the nation. Every April, we’ll be shining the spotlight on science, technology and innovation. [Through] sponsors and to event partners like the scientists and engineers at NC State, we’ll be getting a unique opportunity to explore science in our state,” Frederick said.

During that same time period, the weekend of April 14, the College of Physical and Mathematical Science is holding its annual Scope Academy program. This is a series of seminars by the college faculty and concludes with a keynote speaker.

“The keynote is an invited speaker, but she is actually ours. Meg Lowman , who is the director of the Nature Research Center, and a member of our faculty…is going to talk about her own research as a canopy ecologist…[and] how she’s come down from the trees and got people excited about science discovery,” Townsend said.

Lowman will also be discussing is at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. It’s grand opening is another part of these events and is being held April 20-21.

Lastly, the Research Triangle is holding the national Science Writers 2012 conference Oct. 26-30. This event brings in top writers from the New York Times, Discover, the Washington Post and others from across the nation.

“It’s a great place to make good contacts who are really interested in science, scientists themselves or English majors who write about science,” Townsend said.

This event is held in a different city every year, so it is a great opportunity for local scientists to get the word out about their research. The conference brings in a crowd of more than 400 people and lasts five days.

“[To have] little lab bench projects, and then see them come to fruition and have actual companies on Centennial…Those are the kinds of things we’re hoping that the attendees will be able to grasp and take back, and say ‘oh wow, I want to write about something, let me call N.C . State and find out how they did that,'” Weston said.

“The attendees will get to see North Carolina scientists…and get a feel for what it’s like here and blow their minds with what a cool place this is. This market is just overflowing with good science communicators. There’s a lot of work here, and we are proud to show it off,” Bates said.

Shipman expressed concern with research funding getting slashed.

 ”The general public seems to be less interested in science and technology even as they become more reliant on science and technology…and the way that the declining interest…is manifesting itself is in declining public support for funding research and education on science and technology issues,” Shipman said.

He said he believes events such as these can bring a variety of science enthusiasts together to understand their role in scientific communication and get more and better information out there.

Shipman cites an example for N.C . State where a researcher discovered malware on Android phones. This finding allowed many people’s personal data to be saved when otherwise it might have gone unnoticed. He emphasizes the importance of events such as these in furthering scientific communication and expresses the driving force behind many of these events.

“There is a very real concrete value to financing science and technology research, but if we don’t tell people about it, then they’re not going to appreciate it, and that’s sort of the fundamental drive for science communication being important,” Shipman said.

Townsend feels that so far, the University is on the right track.

“I think NC State does a good job of trying to make sure that we graduate scientists and engineers who are also good writers and verbal communicators, and also we try to produce CHASS graduates who not only are good in whatever they’re going on to but can also talk and think critically about science topics. This Year of Communicating Science is trying to promote that beyond our students and maybe even our alumni to the general public in North Carolina,” Townsend said.

All the events are open to the public but require registration on their respective websites. Students are encouraged to participate to learn more about what is happening at the University.