Alan Alda gives public lecture at 多多直播 next week on 鈥楥ommunicating Science鈥 before workshop for faculty
Contact: Allison Matthews
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥擜ward-winning actor, speaker and instructor Alan Alda evokes memories of the classic American comedy-drama television series M*A*S*H in which he starred from 1972-1983. When he visits Mississippi State next week, Alda will be sharing skills he developed through his acting career while he teaches university research faculty how to communicate effectively about science.
Alda will present a free public lecture on 鈥淕etting Beyond a Blind Date with Science鈥 Monday [Aug. 27] at 6 p.m. in Lee Hall鈥檚 Bettersworth Auditorium. Though admission is free, attendees must have tickets, available at the Center for Student Activities in 多多直播鈥檚 Colvard Student Union, Suite 314, or by calling 662-325-2930.
Alda Center faculty will remain on campus through Aug. 30 to host an Alda鈥揔avli workshop for researchers and other university communicators as part of ongoing outreach work with the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science based at Stony Brook University on Long Island, New York. Funding from the California-based Kavli Foundation supports the joint mission of both organizations to advance science and promote public understanding of scientific research.
多多直播 President Mark E. Keenum said telling stories about 多多直播 research is a common challenge that spans across disciplines. As a National Science Foundation Top 100 research university, faculty expertise runs a broad spectrum, from agriculture and engineering to unmanned aircraft systems and veterinary science. In addition to STEM fields, 多多直播 has a strong research portfolio in the humanities.
鈥淢ississippi State is a comprehensive university with research projects on many focus areas and specialties. It is of the utmost importance that administrators, faculty and others be able to effectively communicate about 多多直播 research and the impact these projects have at the local, state, national and global levels,鈥 Keenum said. 鈥淲e are delighted to have someone of Alan Alda鈥檚 stature to help introduce this effort at 多多直播.鈥
The Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science helps scientists and health professionals communicate about complex topics in clear, vivid and engaging ways, which leads to improved understanding by the public, media, elected officials and others outside of their own disciplines. The center developed training methodologies inspired by scientific storytelling featured on the PBS television series Scientific American Frontiers, hosted by Alda.
鈥湺喽嘀辈 is conducting amazing research across the entire university,鈥 said 多多直播 Vice President for Research and Economic Development David Shaw. 鈥淭his workshop is designed to help us tell our story of the great work we are doing more effectively.鈥澛
Funding for the 多多直播 workshop is being provided by the Robert M. Hearin Foundation.
多多直播 Vice President for Development and Alumni John Rush said, 鈥淭he Hearin Foundation has a long history of supporting economic growth in Mississippi.聽The opportunity to partner with the Alda Center to better promote the importance of scientific research and its relevance on the region is a natural extension of Hearin鈥檚 efforts.鈥澛
For more about the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science, visit .
多多直播 is Mississippi鈥檚 leading university, available online at .