Making changes based on evidence

By Jenni Metcalfe

One of the aims of science communicators is to help decision-makers to make more informed choices. This is how we can influence changes to policies and actions.

But often the culture of science means it can be hard to provide the black and white facts that many decision-makers want before they are willing to create change.

Scientists deal in probabilities, not absolutes. Definitive experiments that absolutely prove something as true are virtually impossible for many fields of science. The science often tells contradictory stories (think of research on the benefits, or not, of red wine). And scientists want to include all the qualifications to their results.

Red wine: healthy, or not? Image: Carl Davies, CSIRO Science Image

So what can communicators do to help facilitate change based on evidence?

1. Listen to the communication needs of the decision-makers.
2. Communicate as early as possible about any new information that will help people to change before it becomes too late.
3. Focus on solutions to a problem, rather than the impacts of the problem.
4. Learn to paint the big picture of evidence rather than getting lost in the detail.

It’s more about accepting change

By Sarah Cole

It’s been a long time since I’ve done paid full-time work. A momentous change – the birth of my son was nearly a year ago, now.

Looking back, even if I’d had future-me to talk to, then, all future-me’s words would be in a foreign language I was not yet fluent in. I’d get the gist, but not get it.

Adapting to the change has been more about accepting it, I’ve found. When people have asked about coping with other changes in my life, I’ve said before, “You do it, or you die.” There’s no ‘not coping’.

Here’s how I think I’ve muddled through:

• Find shipmates. Those people who are in the same boat as you? They’ll be invaluable, learning and laughing alongside you and your mistakes.
• Accept people’s advice gently. Now I understand the reason for the sometimes overwhelming mountains of advice from others. Mostly, it’s empathy, hoping that just one thing you say could make life easier for another person.
• Allow a little struggle. It sure is difficult to come to terms with change if you haven’t waded in, waded through it. Get in, find the slippery, invisible floor with your feet, then start walking out.

Communicating messages for change

By Jenni Metcalfe

In my communication to farmers about managing their climate risk and adapting to inevitable climate change, I’ve discovered that there are messages that work to facilitate change and others that will more likely entrench the status quo.

The Climatedogs – animated explanations of climate drivers in Australia that focus on showing trends. Image: Managing Climate Variability

Quote of the month

“We must all obey the great law of change. It is the most powerful law of nature.”

— Edmund Burke