Opportunities in Public Engagement: Sharing Your Scientific Expertise with Policymakers and the Media

Advances in science and technology shape our society and our everyday lives — from lifesaving medical technologies, to the way we communicate, to the energy sources that power our homes, vehicles, and businesses.  And breakthroughs in physics have laid the foundation for many of these societal and cultural milestones.  In an era when the pace of scientific discovery continues to increase, physicists are uniquely positioned to be a voice for science and connect in meaningful ways with colleagues, friends, policymakers, and the media as we strive to deliver on the promise of these discoveries to solve global challenges.  In this talk I will share my story as a physicist working in public service, in science policy, and with journalists.  I will highlight some of the lessons I have learned in bridging cultural divides and discuss ways for scientists to engage within their own communities.