Séminaire de santé publique en anglais "Science Communication and Public Health"

Abstract: With the advent of social media, mis- and dis-information related to public health have spread at alarming rates. This has disrupted public confidence in scientists and healthcare professionals with very real consequences for morbidity and mortality globally. In this seminar, we will explore some of the underlying challenges with communicating science in this modern age as well as best practices, informed by behavioral science, in engaging diverse audiences with the important outcomes of scientific research. Training researchers and graduate students to be more effective and engaged science communicators can help improve scientific literacy globally, reduce health disparities, and ensure the highest possible positive impact of our research discoveries.

Bio: Dr. Hart earned her Masters degree in Molecular Biology from the University of California, Santa Barbara and her Ph.D. in Microbial Genetics from the Université de Paris XI (Paris Saclay). She is a collaborative educator with over 17 years of teaching experience in diverse environments (undergraduate and graduate, face-to-face, hybrid and online, etc.). Her teaching philosophy encourages critical thinking skills and promotes strong communication skills and team-based learning. Her scholarship focuses on evidence-based teaching and learning practices including the use of active learning, instructional technology, and problem-based case studies. In various administrative roles, Dr. Hart has acted a program director for a major with 650 undergraduates and as a department chair supervising 28 faculty across a variety of disciplines. She has extensive experience in pre-health advising and was honored with MCPHS’s (Massachusetts College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences) highest teaching award (Trustees Award for Teaching Excellence) in 2015 along with multiple university service awards during her career in higher education.