A Final Note

First, let me say it was a pleasure getting to know all of you this semester.  I was surprised that on many of your self-evaluations you felt that you hadn't really improved in terms of communication skills over the semester, because I have seen great gains in your work.  Perhaps you will see them too, over time.

Second, I received an email from a colleague this morning who was at the American Geophysical Union (AGU) conference last week.  While the Society for Petroleum Engineering (SPE) ATCE had its first-ever "social panel" this year, AGU has been thinking about the social--and communication in particular--for some time.  Check out this line-up of panels and poster presentations:

Monday, December 3

ED13E. ED13E. Public Participation in Citizen Science Research I
Convener(s): Constance Walker (Natl Optical Astronomy Observ), Pamela Gay (SIUE / Astrosphere), Stephen Pompea (Natl Optical Astronomy Obs) and Nicole Gugliucci (SIUE STEM Center)
1:40 PM – 3:40 PM; 301 (Moscone South)

GC13C. GC13C. Integrating Natural and Social Science Research to Address Human Dimensions of Global Change I Posters
Convener(s): Katherine Marvel (LLNL), Steven Davis (University of California, Irvine), Kate Ricke (Carnegie Institution of Science) and Juan Moreno-Cruz (Georgia Institute of Technology)
1:40 PM – 6:00 PM; Hall A-C (Moscone South)

Tuesday, December 4

S21A. S21A. Citizen-Empowered Seismology I Posters
Convener(s): Paul Earle (USGS) and Remy Bossu (CSEM c/o CEA, Bat. Sable)
8:00 AM – 12:20 PM; Hall A-C (Moscone South)

ED21B. ED21B. Ocean Science Online: Engaging Multiple Audiences I Posters
Convener(s): Giora Proskurowski (University of Washington) and Allison Fundis (University of Washington)
8:00 AM – 12:20 PM; Hall A-C (Moscone South)

GC22B. GC22B. Communicating Climate Science—Seeking the Best of Old and New Paradigms I
Convener(s): James Byrne (Univ Lethbridge), Natasha Andronova (UM Atm, Oce & Spc Sci) and Philip Rasch (Pacific Northwest National Lab)
10:20 AM – 12:20 PM; 3014 (Moscone West)

PA23B. PA23B. Facebook, Twitter, Blogs: Science Communication Gone Social—The Social Media 101 I
Convener(s): John Cook (Global Change Institute), Simon Schneider (Institut für Wissenschaft im Film (IWF) e.V.), Jessica Ball (University at Buffalo) and Kate Ramsayer (AGU)
1:40 PM – 3:40 PM; 302 (Moscone South)

ED23D. ED23D. Ocean Science Online: Engaging Multiple Audiences II
Convener(s): Allison Fundis (University of Washington) and Giora Proskurowski (University of Washington)
1:40 PM – 3:40 PM; 301 (Moscone South)

GC23A. GC23A. Communicating Climate Science—Seeking the Best of Old and New Paradigms II Posters
Convener(s): Natasha Andronova (UM Atm, Oce & Spc Sci), Philip Rasch (Pacific Northwest National Lab) and James Byrne (Univ Lethbridge)
1:40 PM – 6:00 PM; Hall A-C (Moscone South)

SM23C. SM23C. Strategies and Innovative Approaches for the Future of Space Weather Forecasting: Science and Infrastructure II Posters
Convener(s): Harlan Spence (University of New Hampshire), Michael Hesse (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center) and Daniel Baker (University of Colorado)
1:40 PM – 6:00 PM; Hall A-C (Moscone South)

IN23F. IN23F. Near Real Time Data Uses for Earth Science and Space Weather Applications: Use of Social Media I (Video On-Demand)
2:40 PM – 3:40 PM; 104 (Moscone South)

PA24A. PA24A. Is Video Replacing Writing? The Role of Video in Effectively Communicating Science I
Convener(s): Douglas Harned (U.S.Geological Survey), Gerard McMahon (USGS) and Ryan vachon (Earth Initiatives and OPIC)
4:00 PM – 6:00 PM; 302 (Moscone South)

Bloggers Forum: Science on the Web
Get expert advice from seasoned bloggers and spark new discussions on the future of geoblogging at the Bloggers Forum. Panelists to be announced. Come with questions, ideas, or observations on the nature of blogging about Earth and space sciences. The bloggers forum will be webstreamed for those unable to attend the Fall Meeting.
5:00PM – 6:00PM; Moscone West Room 3000

Wednesday, December 5

PA31B. PA31B. Facebook, Twitter, Blogs: Science Communication Gone Social—The Social Media 101 II Posters
Convener(s): Simon Schneider (Institut für Wissenschaft im Film (IWF) e.V.), John Cook (Global Change Institute), Jessica Ball (University at Buffalo) and Kate Ramsayer (AGU)
8:00 AM – 12:20 PM; Hall A-C (Moscone South)

PA33A. PA33A. Is Video Replacing Writing? The Role of Video in Effectively Communicating Science II Posters
Convener(s): Douglas Harned (U.S.Geological Survey), Gerard McMahon (USGS) and Ryan vachon (Earth Initiatives and OPIC)
1:40 PM – 6:00 PM; Hall A-C (Moscone South)

Thursday, December 6

ED42A. ED42A. Climate Literacy: Higher Education Efforts in Climate Change Education II
Convener(s): Anne Gold (CIRES/CU Boulder-Rsrch Lab 2) and Miriam Bertram (University of Washington)
10:20 AM – 12:20 PM; 302 (Moscone South)

U44A. U44A. Dissolving Boundaries Between Scientists, Media, and the Public
Convener(s): Eli Kintisch (AAAS-Science Magazine) and Juliette Rooney-Varga (UMass Lowell)
4:00 PM – 6:00 PM; 102 (Moscone South)

Friday, December 7

IN51C. IN51C. Linked Data for Earth and Space Science Posters
Convener(s): Brian Wilson (Jet Propulsion Laboratory), David Arctur (Open Geospatial Consortium), Eric Rozell (Rensselaer Polytechnic Inst) and Thomas Narock (NASA/GSFC)
8:00 AM – 12:20 PM; Hall A-C (Moscone South)

No doubt AGU is on the ball because of the long-lasting and complex controversies that have erupted in the US over climate change; perhaps fracking is pushing SPE to do the same.

This is the last post for this version of CommForge:  I imagine CommForge3 will make an appearance some time in 2014, with all new student bloggers, assignments, and controversies to discuss.  See you then!