Talks/seminars

The Birth of the Science Communicator:

What is a science communicator? The era of once-a-decade outliers like Carl Sagan is long gone. In this current era of internet-borne disinformation and science denial pandemonium, science communication has emerged as a vibrant and painfully necessary field, with an army of science scholars focusing their expertise exclusively on informing the public. Charlatans and anti-science propaganda have never been more prevalent, and the stakes have never been higher, as the existential challenge of the 21st century begins to materialize: How do we help people know what is true? This talk will clarify the issue and players involved, as well as highlight important strategies that can be identified toward winning this war with ourselves.

The Future of Science Communication:

What is science communication? What does a science communicator do? How can you find out if scicomm is something you'd be interested in doing? How does one get started doing scicomm, and what can one expect as they progress through their career? This talk will provide background as to how Dave began his career as a science communicator, and offer insight as to how young, passionate, science literate minds can embark upon this career path, in any of its myriad forms.

Effective Content Creation/Science Communication:

SEMINAR 1:

Are you interested in creating your own educational video content? Whether you are a teacher looking to create assets for a flipped classroom model, or a science communicator wanting to make an impact online, Dave has the tips for you. Having amassed 3M+ subscribers and 300M+ views, Dave will offer insight as to the precise tactics he uses so as to generate educational content that keeps students coming back time and time again, in dozens of topics, to enhance their learning experience.

SEMINAR 2:

Are you a group of scientists or science students interested in implementing science communication into your set of responsibilities? You’re fantastic! But how will you get started? How does one effectively communicate their science to the public? It’s harder than one might initially presume, as making science both intelligible and engaging to the general public is about as challenging as doing science. Dave will offer exercises and tips to help you in this endeavor.

Is This Wi-Fi Organic?

Science denial and disinformation are rampant in our society. How can you make sure you don't get fooled, even without a strong foundation of scientific knowledge? Science communicator and generalist Dave Farina spends his time analyzing social trends as they pertain to science denial, and has identified a variety of narratives, tactics, and strategies used by snake oil salesmen and propaganda peddlers across the board. Learn how to spot bad science so you don't fall for it!

Past Appearances:

  • Carleton College

  • UC Irvine

  • UCLA

  • UPenn

  • CSICon 2023

  • EduCon 2019 and 2022

  • Science Talk 2023

  • Skeptical Inquirer

  • Houston Oasis

  • Denver Secular Hub

  • Nerd Nite

  • Byte of Science

  • Pint of Science