Separate programs this week involve science and the media. Today (Sept. 20), a panel discussion will address the media’s role in disseminating science news to the public. Later in the week, the Science Friday radio show comes to campus to tape an episode on water issues.

• “Pulling Back the Curtain: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Changing World of Journalism” — Panel discussion for students, staff and faculty — anyone at UC Davis involved in communicating science to the public. Presented by COMPASS, a nonprofit, nonadvocacy organization, with a vision to see more scientists engage, and engage effectively, in the public discourse about the environment; and sponsored by the Office of Strategic Communications.

Leading science journalists will talk about new trends in science journalism, while also discussing the changing state of the media and what the changes mean for communicating science to the public and policymakers. The panelists will share their personal perspectives about what makes a good science story, how to get your stories told, and the do’s and don’ts of dealing with journalists.

The panelists: Christopher Joyce, NPR national science correspondent; Ken Weiss, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist; Erica Gies, independent journalist; Lauren Sommer, KQED science journalist. Moderated by Nancy Baron of COMPASS.

Details: 4 p.m. today (Sept. 20), 66 Roessler Hall. No registration needed.

• Science Friday — Host Ira Flatow and crew will be in Jackson Hall at the Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts, talking with UC Davis scientists and recording the discussion, which will then be edited into a Science Friday episode. The show confirmed these guests: Tessa Hill, associate professor, Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences and Bodega Marine Laboratory; Oliver Kreylos, associate researcher, Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences; Jeanette Newmiller, graduate student, Center for Watershed Sciences; and John Crowe, professor emeritus, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology.

Topics are expected to include the Augmented Reality Sandbox (as seen in the video above); Kreylos developed the ARsandbox prototype and its open-source software. 

Details: 8 p.m. Saturday (Sept. 24). Tickets are available online: $25-$55 regular; $23-$50 active military; $19-$41 student; and $12.50-$27.50 children under 18. More information is available online.

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