Dear Colleagues: We are conducting a photovoice study to explore what it means to be a Black scientist doing science communication in the U.S.

Dear Colleagues,

We are conducting a photovoice study to explore what it means to be a Black scientist doing science communication in the U.S. This study is part of the Science Communication Identities Project (SCIP) funded by the National Science Foundation. This project seeks to reimagine science communication training in the U.S. by making it culturally responsive and relevant to diverse communities. You can read about the project here.

Who Can Participate? You can participate in this study if you self-identify as a Black faculty member (any rank) working on environmental issues and are currently employed at a university in the United States.

What do we ask of you? Photovoice is a research method that uses photography to document and share a person’s experiences. For this study, we will consider your experiences as a Black environmental scientist in your communication activities. You can find videos and tutorials describing a photovoice project here. As a participant, you will be a co-researcher and work collaboratively with us to transform science spaces.

What Will You Get for Participating? By participating in this study, you will receive training in photography and photovoice methods. You will have a chance to reflect on the question “What does it mean to be a Black scientist communicator in this moment?.” You will have the option to become a co-author on any peer-reviewed or public-facing articles that come out of this work. With your permission, your photos can appear in a public-facing exhibition (e.g. at a scientific conference).

If you are interested, we are hoping that you are willing to participate in the study, which would involve two virtual meetings that are 60-90 minutes long. During these meetings you receive instructions on the methods, share photos you collected on the research prompt, and collectively analyze your findings.

To sign up for this project, email me at nic.bennett.scicomm@gmail.com and we’ll get back to you with scheduling information. If you are concerned about privacy, you can send a text over the Signal app (nicbennett.80) to express your interest. For more information on Signal, how to download the app, and why we use it, check out this document.

We look forward to doing research for social change with you. If you know of anyone else who might be interested in participating, feel free to let them know about the opportunity.

Dear Colleague Letters at Civic Science Times (CST) are guest essays that offer authors a platform to share new initiatives and reflections drawn from published data, personal expertise, and experience with fellow colleagues on important issues within the civic science landscape. Please note that the opinions expressed in these letters are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Civic Science Media Lab and/or its partners. If you are interested in sharing your perspective, please email us at mlab@civicsciencemedia.org.

Nic Bennett, Ph.D.

Dr. Nic Bennett researches power, ideology, and belonging in science communication. They are a postdoctoral research fellow with the Scicomm Identities Project at Michigan State University. They engage arts- and science-based research and practice to critique, disrupt, and reimagine science communication spaces. Alongside scientists, artists, activists, and community members, Dr. Bennett hopes to expand the circle of human concern in science communication and STEM. (bio credit: NAE) (photo credit: Steve Rogers Photography)