Hollywood legend Alan Alda to give talk in Ballsbridge

HOLLYWOOD legend, Alan Alda, will be the keynote speaker at an annual science communication conference taking place on December 12  in the Ballsbridge Hotel.

The focus of this year’s SCI:COM conference is reputation and visibility in the world of science communication.
Alan Alda is the founder of the Alda Centre for Communicating Science at Stony Brook University, New York. The centre trains scientists, through innovative programmes, to help them communi-cate more effectively with the public.
Alan Alda said he was excited to be visiting Ireland to speak at SCI:COM 2018.

“We’ll talk about the power of connecting with an audience, using empathy and really listening when we’re communicating,” he explained. “We need to communicate better now more than ever, in science, in politics, and at the dinner table.” 
He added: “Ireland has such a powerful tradition of communicating through storytelling and artful use of language, so it will be a treat to be in a room full of people eager to communicate science and really share knowledge.” 
Also speaking at SCI:COM 2018 will be Mark Pollock and fiancée and partner Simone George, fresh from their highly successful TED talk.

Adam Rutherford, best-selling author and presenter of BBC Inside Science, will join Joanna Donnelly, author of ‘The Great Irish Weather Book’, on a journey to explore the writing process in a workshop session on publishing.
Alex Boyd, Public Engagement and Outreach Manager, UCD Research and Innovation and a member of the SCI:COM 2018 organising committee said: “At SCI:COM we explore excellence in science communication and highlight how skilled communication can positively influence the reputation of research and trust in science.

“As a community we need to ensure that we authentically connect with stakeholders and communicate our research stories effectively.” 
One of the largest events of its kind in Europe, SCI:COM 2018 offers fresh perspective from innovators, educators and science communicators.