I have had some wonderful synergies from my COPUS involvement.

The effort to spread the word is ongoing. It is only a matter of time before COPUS reaches “critical mass” or the “tipping point”.

As liaison to Sigma Xi’s Committee for the Public Understanding of Science I expect them to fully endorse COPUS, bringing Society-wide recognition to COPUS. Furthermore, given the influence of the Committee members among science communicators nationally, COPUS should see some excellent momentum build out of that.

For Sigma Xi in particular, COPUS’ support of science cafés provides powerful synergies. With science cafés we (COPUS and Sigma Xi) are already communicating effectively with the public about science. Through science cafés, COPUS and Sigma are taking science to the people.

In places where people are already comfortable, chatting about day-to-day concerns and issues, scientists are bringing their knowledge and expertise into the conversation. We’re connecting scientists with the lay public with unprecedented impact and reach. We know it works. Soaring attendance at science cafés testifies to their ability to engage the public. It really doesn’t get any better.

Buy in from organizations such as WGBH and now, in a collaborative effort with PRI and the BBC, is further evidence of science cafés’ effectiveness. A recent NSF proposal was approved for funding to host “virtual” science cafés online, based on the same principle as the live events.

At the recent hub meeting St Petersburg, COPUS reaffirmed its support for science cafés. By leveraging its connections with organizers of these events, COPUS can be part of the conversation too. COPUS’ hub structure can provide tangible follow-up to a science café event so that folks leave with resolve about how they can address science issues in their community.

This is just the beginning. In a November 2007 survey (in which 10 per cent of our members responded), Sigma Xi members reaffirmed their commitment to engaging the public in science, ranking it top out of all of the Society’s external outreach programs. Sigma Xi staff now have a responsibility to fulfill the members’ mandate. We need a cohesive national organization to help us do that. COPUS is the only such organization. We will be working closely with COPUS in the coming months and years to realize our common goal of increasing public engagement in, understanding of and, most importantly, support for, the great human endeavor we call “science.”

Sigma Xi recently released a press release about their participation in COPUS: http://sigmaxi.org/about/news/2008Science09.shtml

This blog posting was contributed by Roger Harris, Director, Emerging Technologies and Research Analysis at Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society rharris@sigmaxi.org