Town hall set for panel of top science journalists Nov. 10
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The public is invited to talk with leading science writers on Nov. 10 during Purdue University's three-day Science Journalism Laureates program.
This year new laureates will joined previous honorees. This is the fifth year for the program. Both groups will participate in a 90-minute public town hall meeting that will include time for questions and begin at 10:30 a.m. Nov. 10 in the Lawson Computer Science Building foyer. Moira Gunn, a Purdue alumnus and host of "Tech Nation" and "BioTech Nation," which are public radio shows, will moderate the discussion, during which questions will be taken from the audience.
The forum, which will be taped for later broadcast on "Tech Nation," is free and open to the public.
"Both faculty and students will find the forum engaging and informative," said professor Gabriela Weaver, director of the Discovery Learning Research Center and co-organizer of the Science Journalism Laureates Program with professor Howard Sypher, head of the Department of Communication. "The art of explaining our work to the public is a critical step in research. Science writers such as these laureates are key to that communication."
Also during their stay, the journalists will interact with the Purdue community and hear brief presentations from faculty. Several have been invited to visit student classes as well.
The laureates are selected based on their reputation for thought-provoking work and aptitude for translating scientific discoveries into a format the public can easily understand.
The event's sponsors include all of Purdue's colleges or schools as well as the Discovery Research Learning Center, Discovery Park, Office of Engagement, Extended Campus, Global Policy Research Institute, Purdue Libraries, Office of the Vice President for Research and the Office of the Provost.
Writer: Jeanne V. Norberg, 765-494-2084, jnorberg@purdue.edu
Sources: Gabriela Weaver, 765-496-3055, gweaver@purdue.edu
Howard Sypher, 765-494-3300, hsypher@purdue.edu
Note to Journalists: Reporters are welcome to cover the town hall and reception. Those wishing to interview the laureates may do so during the reception.