National Science Communication Institute

Marketing & nSCI

Marketing plays an important role in science communication, from effectively explaining information to the public and policymakers, to reaching out to communities, or simply sharing ideas with colleagues.

It's a new world

Science has never been big on self-promotion, so there are many traditional assumptions about communication protocols that your organization may raise. Why is "marketing" necessary and what's the benefit?

Tight budgets

Marketing expenses are usually the first thing companies cut in tight economies. That's why nSCI's goal is to help you find expert help for your science marketing projects at a fraction of the actual cost (or even free if we can).


  1.

    Supersize science

    Posted by
    / May 10, 2013
    Science has a branding problem. What does this mean and why should we care? Let’s start with a definition. In corporate America, brands are the bedrock of business. McDonald’s might not make the best hamburgers in the universe (personally I...

  2. Science students learn to tell stories

    Posted by
    / March 25, 2013
    With the National Science Foundation (NSF) and other agencies requiring outreach as a part of many research grants, the demand far outstrips training programs at the university level… Already accustomed to reaching out through Facebook...

  3. Neil deGrasse Tyson: Let’s Think Big About Space

    Posted by
    / March 6, 2013
    What does the future hold for America’s space program? Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson argues that space exploration is vital for our economy, our security — and our morale. “Audacious visions… have the power to change assumptions about what is possible,”...

  4. This Story Stinks

    Posted by
    / March 2, 2013
    IN the beginning, the technology gods created the Internet and saw that it was good. Here, at last, was a public sphere with unlimited potential for reasoned debate and the thoughtful exchange of ideas, an enlightening conversational bridge across the...

  5. Is there pressure to publicize?

    Posted by
    / January 30, 2013
    Even in today’s world of ubiquitous communication tools, it’s rare for research scientists to communicate their work directly to the public. Newspapers and other media outlets are our unofficial science translators, sifting through studies and jargon to present readable summaries...

  6. This Isn’t the Petition Response You’re Looking For

    Posted by
    / January 15, 2013
    The Obama administration’s “We the People” petition site has a simple rule: get 25,000 people to sign on to any request, and it will get an official response. And all sorts of outrageous requests, including calls for secession and Obama’s...

  7. Space science in the classroom reaches new heights

    Posted by
    / December 11, 2012
    Tonight “NBC Nightly News” profiled a volunteer space program in California that is helping kids from around the world send science projects to the edge of space. If you would like to learn more about JP Aerospace please visit their...

More Articles

  1.

    Apply for Support for a New Festival

    Posted by
    / May 1, 2013
    The Science Festival Alliance (SFA) is currently seeking applications from new science festival initiatives in US communities with a relatively small resource base interested in receiving matching funding, mentoring, and travel support. The support is available thanks to the generous...

  2. Seattle Science Festival – June 6-16, 2013

    Posted by
    / April 1, 2013
    Seattle Science Festival, the region’s largest celebration of science. Now, in its second year, the festival will bring hands-on exhibits, shows, demonstrations and performances to venues throughout the Pacific Northwest. All events are designed to engage, educate and inspire people...

  3. Social Media for Pharma Conference

    Posted by
    / March 8, 2013
    Attend Social Media for Pharma to get to grips with winning strategies for incorporating  social media into your communications and marketing mix, and leverage the latest interactive Web 2.0 tools and techniques to advance your organizational goals, by: Navigating the...

  4. NAS Conference: The Science of Science Communication

    Posted by
    / February 26, 2013
    The National Academy of Sciences invites you to attend a colloquium on The Science of Science Communication. Event Dates: May 21, 2012 to May 22, 2012 Location: Washington, DC, United States Website: http://www.nasonline.org/programs/sackler-colloquia/upcoming-colloquia/science-communication.html Anyone who has followed the public dialogue...

  6. Science Communications 2013

    Posted by
    / February 26, 2013
    Communicating science — whether in text, television, the web, or in person — is an intensive pursuit, preoccupied with explanation. Sometimes the attention that must be paid to those qualities can stifle the passion which most of us bring to...

More Events

Man walks on moon!

Read more in the Journal of Moon Science, not available in English, online or in news stands

In academia, researchers are encouraged to publish journal articles over everything else, including books, blog posts, and other tidbits that bring clarity to science and science to the public. This might be one reason why science is generally unconcerned about “marketing”—the lack of institutional incentives. There is also a general sense among many in science that done improperly, “marketing” taints science by misrepresenting facts, spreading misinformation, and even worse, giving false hope to those in need. This arms-length relationship between science and clear communication ends up being a vicious circle—science isn’t often promoted properly, the public is uninspired, and scientists conclude that spending money on marketing is a waste.

The reality is that today more than ever before, clear and effective communication is important for grant-funded institutions who need to be efficient, effective and transparent in their messaging, and for endeavors like science outreach whose complicated and important messages need to compete for attention in a very entertaining and diverse information landscape.

Learn more