Colleagues of Holly Seitz, a Mississippi State Department of Communications associate professor and director of the MSU Social Science Research Center Message Laboratory, at MSU and George Mason University are offering free science communication training opportunities this fall.

Participants will learn how to communicate with audiences about the value and importance of their work, as well as science, more generally.

Any faculty member, post-doctoral researcher or graduate student is welcome to participate. Please register with your university email via https://gmuchss.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6soU5F5OuapHyOq. Interested participants must register by Oct. 3 to ensure space in the study. Space is limited.

Participants will be asked to:

—Complete a few short surveys about science communication. Additional information will be sent to participants once they register for the study.

—Meet with us virtually to record a short video of you discussing your research or a science topic of your choosing. This recording will be kept confidential. Additional information will be sent to participants once they register for the study.

—Participate in a full-day, in-person science communication training workshop sometime between Oct. 17 and 21. Participants will attend training on one of these dates. They will be randomly assigned to one of these dates as soon as they register for the study, with additional information to then follow.

The workshop will be held at the MSU Office of Research and Economic Development Training Room, located at 301 Research Boulevard in Starkville. This location is in the Thad Cochran Research, Technology and Economic Development Park.

In addition to the personal and societal benefits associated with science communication, participants will receive financial compensation.

If you have questions about this study, contact GMU Associate Professor Chris Clarke at cclark27@gmu.edu.