Dialogue with the Public: Practical Guidelines

This guide, aimed at enhancing dialogue and discussion, is intended primarily for those relatively new to communicating science. Each chapter follows a similar format with a brief discussion followed by some guidelines on issues to think about, some examples, and an organiser’s checklist. It is intended that the "Guidelines" and "Organiser’s Checklist" in each chapter will increase opportunities for dialogue and exchanges of ideas and views for all practising communicators. The intention is always to help maximise the audience reached and the interaction with that audience.

 

The chapters in the guide aim to help people make that next step, by addressing the following topics:

• Setting objectives;
• Understanding audiences;
• Attracting audiences - marketing and publicity;
• Encouraging dialogue within traditional formats;
• Identifying appropriate techniques to facilitate dialogue - strengths and weaknesses of existing techniques; and
• Methods of evaluating the effectiveness of dialogue events.

A recommendation within the guide is: "That direct dialogue with the public should move from being an optional add-on to science-based policy making and to the activities of research organisations and learned institutions, and should become a normal and integral part of the process."