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SCIENCE COMMUNICATORS:
HOW TO PRACTICE FOR A MEDIA INTERVIEW

Mock interviews: Practice makes perfect

Sharing your science with all kinds of audiences is a valuable way to ensure society understands the value of Earth and space science. When it comes to giving scientific presentations, we all know that practice makes perfect. The same rule can, and should, be used when preparing to talk with individuals from all different kinds of audiences. Talking to a community group? Giving a media interview? Meeting with a policymaker? 

One of the best ways to practice is through role play. Enlist a partner(s) to play the role of your audience and practice answering the questions we’ve devised to get you started.

Woman giving a radio interview
  • 1
    Tell me more about why you decided to study this.
  • 2
    What are the key findings of this research/work? Did anything surprise you?
  • 3
    What are the long-term implications of your research/work?
  • 4
    How will this research/work affect me and my family? Our community?
  • 5
    What are you asking us to do about this?
  • 6
    Why should we fund this research (when there are other pressing issues such as starving children across the world)? Does this research affect policy?
  • 7
    What will you or other scientists be doing next on this issue?
Woman on computer

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AGU offers interactive science communication workshops around the country. Our full- or half-day workshops provide scientists with skills and best practices in science communication and outreach.
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