The journal prompt for this week was to discuss where we gained our data analysis and science communication skills and ways we can further develop these skills.
Theresa’s experience stems from having took courses throughout her University career that have helped her hone her ability to interpret scientific papers, write scientifically, and learn the fundamentals of data analysis tools such as MATLAB and R. To improve her existing skills, Theresa hopes to lead her own research experiment one day. She hopes that this directed studies project will improve her ability to communicate scientific research to people outside the scientific community.
Mikaela learned how to communicate scientific research to non-technical audiences through classes that taught her data analysis techniques (MATLAB, ArcGIS, and Excel) and during her co-op at Fisheries and Oceans Canada. She believes this directed studies opportunity will build on her past experiences and increase her ability to engage and educate people on environmental issues. Furthermore, the interdisciplinary nature of the project wherein we have the opportunity to connect with people in vastly different faculties will really expand her ability to communicate science outside of the usual means. In her daily life, Mikaela improves her scientific communication skills through conversations with people without scientific backgrounds.
My experience in data analysis started in creating a data-informed matrix that explored the propensity of Arctic communities to repay loans, but was furthered through courses in University that taught me MATLAB and R. My ability to communicate scientifically is mainly from talking to friends and family about scientific research. In order to improve my data analysis skills, I intend on completing online courses that will teach me more data analysis tools. To improve my communication skills, I am planning on writing a commentary exploring scientific research in the Arctic directed towards an audience without a science background.