In this week's episode, Dave talks with Kate Fullam, the communications director for The Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science. It's a completely unscripted and natural conversation about her work at the center in general and The Flame Challenge in particular. The Flame Challenge is designed for scientists to create a four-minute video or write a short essay on a theme. This year's was "What is Energy?" What makes the contest so unique is that the contestants have to be scientists and they have to make their content accessible to an 11-year-old. And guest what? Eleven-year-olds also judge the contest!
Fullam also talks about how Alan Alda established the center to help teach scientists and doctors to better communicate their work to people. Using improvisational exercises, the scientists get a masterclass in the art of communicating with their fellow human beings. In this era of falsehoods, the need for accurate, fact-based and engaging scientific communication is more important than ever, and people like Fullam are helping to facilitate it.