Patterns of Outreach Participation by Scientists

Professional science communicators provide a huge amount of valuable science outreach, but an increasing body of evidence suggests that working scientists also play a vital role in these efforts. I will summarize some recent experiences of outreach by scientists and identify some of the reasons why their involvement in outreach is particularly effective. More formal evidence is needed, but what we know from the field of outreach practice suggests a number of lessons for those seeking to increase scientists' public outreach.