Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science

06/23/2026

In the recent Scientific American article, "What people get wrong about scientists," Dava Sobel writes:

"The word I hear most often from scientists speaking candidly about their research—the word most at odds with the prevailing stereotype—is 'passion.'"

We know that passion. We get to see, hear, and feel it many times over during our workshops with scientists, researchers, and engineers. And because we get to experience it so often, we hold that passion for their work with them.

It's not by accident. Our programs are designed to bring that passion to the forefront of conversations to create genuine human connections between experts and their audiences. When the very human passion and curiosity of scientists shines through and connects with the passions of their audiences, the value of scientific work becomes clear and meaningful to others, and that is precisely when action and impact become possible.

Read more from Dava's piece on her observations of scientists and the "pernicious" scientist stereotype here: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/distrust-in-science-thrives-on-dangerous-stereotypes/?utm_campaign=sprinklr&utm_medium=social&utm_source=linkedin

Let's continue the conversation on this subject in the comments, and reach out to us at aldacenter.org to learn more about what we do for scientists, researchers, and engineers.

Scientists are seen as oddballs, and that’s a problem

06/09/2026

The ways people discover and engage with information are changing rapidly.

More people now get their news from social media platforms, where reliable information competes with misinformation in crowded, algorithm-driven feeds.

A recent Nature editorial, "The future of science communication is not an article like this" (Vol. 654, June 4, 2026) notes:

"Information exchange is becoming faster, more visual and more personal. Short bursts of content compete for people’s attention in algorithmically curated feeds, increasingly generated by artificial-intelligence tools. The boundaries between news, opinion and entertainment content are becoming blurred — as is the dividing line between fact and fiction." https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-026-01723-1

What does this mean for science communication training?

For us, it highlights the enduring importance of our mission and approach. While communication channels, platforms, and technologies continue to evolve, the need for experts to connect authentically with their audiences remains constant. We help scientists, researchers, engineers, and other experts meet audiences where they are and increase the impact of their work through training grounded in human connection.

The research-backed Alda Method® combines improvisation techniques with communication strategies that work across communication formats, platforms, and audiences. Our facilitators meet experts where they are, delivering training experiences that speak to their specific needs while remaining grounded in the core principles of the Alda approach.

The Nature editorial concludes, "In this increasingly competitive environment, it is essential that credible science broadcasts a strong signal."

We agree. Strong signals require strong communicators. That means treating communication skills as core infrastructure for STEMM professions, and investing in building those skills.

What do you see as the biggest challenges facing science communicators today? What is needed to meet those challenges?
We would love to see your thoughts in the comments below! 👇

Researchers and science publishers need to seize the opportunity offered by the drastic shifts in the way news is produced — one reason Nature has joined TikTok.

06/04/2026

More than 15 years after Alan Alda founded the Alda Center at Stony Brook University, the need for better science communication continues to grow.

Today's Wall Street Journal feature by Peter Loftus highlights the Alda Center's expanding reach and the growing demand for effective science communication training. As the article notes, Stanford, NASA, and AstraZeneca are just a few of the organizations we've partnered with, and more than 35,000 scientists and researchers have participated in Alda Center programs around the world. Demand for our workshops is so strong that we often have a months-long waiting list.

The reason is simple: people are more likely to engage with science when they feel connected to the person sharing it.

The article also takes readers inside a recent Alda Experience workshop at the SUNY University at Albany, led by Alda facilitators Josh Rice and Kim S. Stauffer. If you've ever wondered what happens in an Alda workshop and how scientists are willing to step outside their comfort zones to improve their communication, this story offers a firsthand look:

https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/scientist-improv-classes-alan-alda-mash-b866de7d

We're proud of the work our team does every day to help experts connect, engage, and be understood. As we look ahead, the Alda Center will have more exciting news about partnerships and initiatives to advance effective communication training for scientists, researchers, and engineers, as well as the efforts of Executive Director Laura Lindenfeld to promote communication as core research infrastructure. At a moment when trust in science is declining, the Alda Center is one of the few organizations actively doing something about it.

Contact us to learn more about our work and how it can advance the impact of critical science, engineering, and research: aldacenter.org

The “M*A*S*H” star’s program to help researchers overcome their communication challenges now draws thousands. We sat in on a class.

06/01/2026

Improv? For some scientists, that can sound far outside their comfort zone.

SUNY Upstate Medical University Associate Professor Jessica Ridilla arrived at the SUNY Research Leadership Academy unsure of what an Alda experience would involve—especially the improv. What she discovered wasn't pressure to perform, but a space to experiment, connect, and grow as a communicator and leader.

By the end of the program, she reflected on how the experience helped her strengthen her communication skills in a way that felt supportive and grounded in genuine human connection.

That's the power of the Alda Method® and the SUNY Research Leadership Academy: meeting people where they are and creating an environment where scientists, researchers, and engineers are encouraged to step beyond their comfort zones, build confidence, and expand what's possible as leaders in their fields.

Hear what Professor Ridilla has to say about her Alda Experience, read more about the SUNY Research Leadership Academy at the link below, and stay tuned here for upcoming Academy news: https://news.stonybrook.edu/university/building-connection-and-leadership/

SUNY - The State University of New York
Stony Brook University

05/28/2026

Science communication occurs with others, not to them.

This is a critical and strategic starting point on the path to being an effective science communicator, and one on which the Alda Center and its methods were founded.

The Alda Center approach to science communication emphasizes genuine human connection through dialogue, active listening, and mutual respect rather than simply delivering information “to” audiences. Effective science communication means not only helping others reconsider what they think, feel, and do, but also allowing experts themselves to be changed by listening, reflection, and engagement with diverse perspectives.

Learn more about Alan's inspiration to create an institution to champion effective science communication, and how we help scientists, researchers, and engineers connect people to their work, here: https://www.aldacenter.org/about/alda-origins.php #2024-Present

05/20/2026

Alda facilitators Josh Rice and Kim Stauffer brought the Alda Experience to SUNY - The State University of New York at Albany this week.

Participants represented an extraordinary range of disciplines and perspectives, spanning the social sciences and humanities, public policy and education, the natural sciences, computing and technology, and multiple areas of engineering.

But they all had something in common: a willingness to jump in, challenge themselves, and expand their communication toolbox. The group was deeply engaged, embracing the playful exploration and thoughtful reflection that are central to the Alda Experience.

And just as importantly, they brought joy to the work!

Watching people from so many different disciplines come together with curiosity, openness, and a commitment to growth is always a reminder of what makes the Alda Experience so powerful.

Learn more about the Alda Method® of science communication training and reach out to us here: https://www.aldacenter.org/about/alda-method.php

05/19/2026

Color us fascinated! The Spring '26 issue of the Young Investigators Review is out now:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1OAJ4LwQn2Vnm9MT-M1vVDB4Tyuzc4YkS/view

Produced by a student team of science communication writers under the mentorship of SUNY Distinguished Professor John Peter Gergen and Assistant Professor of Practice and Alda Facilitator Josh Rice, this 26th volume of the YIR features the science of color as well as some Stony Brook University research highlights.

Congratulations to the team for a captivating and enlightening collection of science communication!

05/15/2026

As part of the Stony Brook University and The State University of New York communities, we’re proud to celebrate Timothy Glotch, Professor and Chair of the SBU Department of Geosciences in the College of Arts and Sciences, who will be featured in SUNY’s “Research and Innovation” campaign running May 15–June 15 at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, JFK Airport, and LaGuardia Airport.

Professor Glotch is one of 10 participating scientists selected to join NASA’s first hashtag lunar surface science team, helping shape the science plan astronauts will carry out on the Moon’s surface.

At the Alda Center, we are fortunate to work alongside extraordinary scientists, researchers, and engineers whose discoveries are advancing knowledge and expanding what’s possible. Being a part of the Stony Brook University and the SUNY community means being surrounded by innovators making an impact at the very highest levels — from Earth and planetary science to health, technology, engineering, and beyond.

Congratulations to Dr. Glotch and to the entire SUNY community on this exciting recognition!

Read more about Dr. Glotch's role and the goals of the mission here: https://news.stonybrook.edu/newsroom/press-release/general/stony-brook-university-professor-timothy-glotch-to-serve-on-nasas-artemis-mission-first-geology-team/

05/13/2026

In today’s environment, the gap is no longer in expertise.
It is in how effectively that expertise is communicated.

Organizations are generating more knowledge than ever, but impact depends on the ability to share that knowledge through clear, human, and trusted communication.

The Alda Center embraces that challenge and leads the science communication training space, with many calling the Alda Experience "transformative."

Through the Alda Method®, professionals across disciplines, including scientists, engineers, healthcare providers, and leaders, develop the skills to connect more effectively, communicate with clarity, and ensure their work achieves its intended impact.

Whether through focused training or ongoing development, the goal is the same. Stronger communication that drives understanding, trust, and results.

Learn more and reach out to us here: aldacenter.org

05/12/2026

We’re excited to see Science Communication for Scientists: Linking Strategy with Creativity, Practice and Respect recognized in the Journal of Science Communication with a thoughtful review by Matthew S. VanDyke.

The review praises the textbook’s evidence-based, ethical, and practical approach to science communication. As Professor VanDyke writes, Science Communication for Scientists “serves as a necessary, current resource for scientists hoping to communicate about their work more effectively.” The book also incorporates many of the core principles of the Alda approach to science communication, emphasizing connection, audience awareness, and communication grounded in clarity, empathy, and responsiveness.

Co-written by Alda Center Executive Director Laura Lindenfeld alongside fellow communication scholars John Besley (Michigan State University College of Communication Arts and Sciences), Xia Zheng (Stony Brook University School of Communication and Journalism), Anthony Dudo (Moody College of Communication at UTAustin), and Todd P. Newman (University of Wisconsin-Madison), the open-access textbook combines research-backed communication strategies with practical applications for scientists, students, and educators. Since its release in September, thousands of readers around the world have accessed the resource, highlighting the growing demand for effective science communication training.

We’re proud to see this work contributing to a broader movement toward science communication that strengthens trust and understanding between STEM professionals and the communities they serve.

👉 Read the review in the Journal of Science Communication: https://jcom.sissa.it/article/pubid/JCOM_2503_2026_R04/

👉 If you are already using Science Communication for Scientists, leave a comment below or reach out to the authors with your thoughts! If you haven't had a chance to check out this great resource, you can get it here, along with resources for instructors: https://www.routledge.com/Science-Communication-for-Scientists-Linking-Strategy-with-Creativity-Practice-and-Respect/Lindenfeld-Besley-Zheng-Dudo-Newman/p/book/9781032797335?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23345041667&gbraid=0AAAAACWuhHWSkh5fJxiV3L3bbPrNgwizk&gclid=Cj0KCQjw8PDPBhCeARIsAOJwmWXex8YBbNf_vbOjyuMStI9_eMtaxElVOZl_18Xh8nFQ5yjqSr5eE4EaAmTXEALw_wcB