Project Hail Mary's SciComm Strategy

After spending too much time doomscrolling, Rey and Steph started to notice a similar pattern between climate change and AI communication. From the doom and gloom narratives to shaming, there are lots of unhelpful tactics being used that might backfire in the process of making AI more safe and ethical. References:“Yale Climate Opinion Map” https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/visualizations-data/ycom-us/“Emotion and the Psychological Distance of Climate Change” https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1075547019889637“Hopium or empowering hope? A meta-analysis of hope and climate engagement” https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1139427/full“Hopeless Average 10-year-old” https://www.instagram.com/p/DdVSpKziWDH/“Please Protect Your Hope” https://www.instagram.com/p/DdHf2nxHTw-/

Rey and Steph are reviewing the Journal of Science Communication commentary "Does science communication have its goals wrong? From persuading science skeptics to promoting scientific empowerment" from Anne Toomey and Kevin Elliott, PLUS John Besley and Sara Yeo's response to that commentary.We talk about how each paper defines persuasion, what we liked about each author's claims, and who do we side with? Also, why do we always reference pandemic communication in every freaking episode????Special thanks to the Civic Science Media Lab for supporting our work in gossiping about all things scicomm. https://civicsciencemedia.org/ References:“Does science communication have its goals wrong? From persuading science skeptics to promoting scientific empowerment” https://jcom.sissa.it/article/pubid/JCOM_2501_2026_C07/ “A response to: “Does science communication have its goals wrong? From persuading science skeptics to promoting scientific empowerment” — A defense of certain types of persuasion” https://jcom.sissa.it/article/pubid/JCOM_2504_2026_L01/

You might have heard of Hank Green’s AI use and its aftermath in the science and SciComm community. You might have also gotten a bit worried about being the target of the next shaming campaign OR that AI users are not being shamed ENOUGH. In this episode, Steph and Rey discuss their thoughts on the whole drama and try to figure out their own boundaries, roles in keeping the community safe for experimentation, yet accountable. Share your hot takes or ask for advice: [email protected] or visit http://scicommhotline.com References: The AI penalty and disclosure paradox: Trust, authenticity and knowledge uptake in AI-mediated communication: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949882126000551Hank’s comment about his AI use. Posted here as its own thing to find easily.https://www.reddit.com/r/nerdfighters/comments/1vc37aw/hanks_comment_about_his_ai_use_posted_here_as_its/?share_id=AIVpWkwkHYrBNO67kyPkU&utm_content=share_button&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_source=share&utm_term=1Colin and Samir video on Hank Green situation: https://youtu.be/cVT7MbRBiLY?si=ea4HPR2u9FCU3V01 NYT Opinion, “If You’re Over 40, You’re Ready to Use AI”: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/27/opinion/teaching-kabbalah-ai.html AI, Craftsmanship, and Scaling Up https://www.instagram.com/p/Db09LxaSD6b/Do people prefer AI-generated stories? https://www.instagram.com/p/DbozJESP2Jh/

Who is your favorite host? What do you like about them? What makes a good host? It’s not just the person but a whole team and environment that can have an effect. Listen to Rey and Steph fangirl about their favorites and get into the nitty gritty of hosting. Share your hot takes or ask for advice: [email protected] or visit http://scicommhotline.com

There is a lot of uncertainty around communicating uncertainty. Despite that, there are a lot of good strategies that we have confidence in. Join Steph and Rey as they discuss the topic with their BFF, Dr. Alex Dainis, who has spent a decade grappling with it and working to identify effective strategies to address uncertainty, such as communication about the Covid pandemic.  Share your hot takes or ask for advice: [email protected] or visit ⁠http://scicommhotline.com⁠ References: Communicating uncertainty to the public during the COVID-19 pandemic: A scoping review of the literature: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/23808985.2022.2085136Climate Change Debate: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjuGCJJUGsgJon Stewart on Media's Hantavirus Panic & Klepper on MAGA's Missing Trump Phones | The Daily Show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TrEYcwOBB0

How can Jujutsu, Muay Thai and Kendo teach us communication?! Listen to your favorite martial arts girlies, Rey and Steph, and their superstar guest, Dr. Samantha Yammine, talk about how doing these sports has not only taught them to be better communicators but also kept them sane!Dr. Samantha Yammine, PhD (she/her), is a Neuroscientist-turned-Science Communicator better known as Science Sam. She is the host of Curiosity Weekly, the flagship science podcast for Discovery, founder of Science is a Drag, and a Regular Science Expert on CTV’s award-winning daily lifestyle show The Good Stuff with Mary Berg. Check her work out here: https://www.samanthayammine.com/Hydroxide IG account: https://www.instagram.com/hydroxide.foodscience/The Astro Stud (Kihana Wilson) IG account: https://www.instagram.com/the_astro_stud/Dr. Mike Confronting Dr. Amen: https://youtu.be/J-SHgZ1XPXs?si=PCqZgcJvJ_8MlFuN Bowling Alone book: http://bowlingalone.com/ (Bowling Alone author) Join or Die with Robert Putnam | What Now? with Trevor Noah Podcast https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23SwzXdJQDg

Out of fear that their favorite content is propaganda, Rey and Steph go down a rabbit hole to understand what persuasion and propaganda are. Join their spiral to leave the episode even more confused than when you started. You’re welcome. References What Is Propaganda, and How Does It Differ From Persuasion?https://us2.sagepub.com/sites/default/files/upm-binaries/11847_Chapter1.pdfHow Hitler’s Propaganda Machine Worked https://open.spotify.com/episode/0uaAms7ZIxYDHxCc5baIbLDifference Between Propaganda and Persuasionhttps://www.differencebetween.net/language/difference-between-propaganda-and-persuasion/Dr. Becky’s post https://www.instagram.com/p/DXPXX7GjIB6/Iran’s lego propagandahttps://www.cnn.com/2026/04/10/world/video/iran-lego-propaganda-vrtc-digvid

There is lots of content out there about the science of the Hail Mary Project movie, but not much really about the science communication side of the movie! Listen to Rey and Steph talk about (some unexpected) SciComm ideas that showed up in the movies, from emotional flow and trust-building principles to the importance of bad science! References Listen to our friend from opinion Science talk to Dr. Robin Nabi about emotions and emotional flow: https://opinionsciencepodcast.com/episode/persuasion-via-emotion-with-robin-nabi/What are you assessing when you measure “trust” in scientists with a direct measure? https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/09636625231161302?casa_token=k3EXyLiapGkAAAAA%3A4WppvSLj0WU9uK3Q9mzbv9UuGud-gCmJWpFfb_N8rOC0UaY7sLHBJRkFofPK3u5IwZLIuJkom4IRyan Gosling says Project Hail Mary is ‘a reminder of what we’re capable of’ https://www.scientificamerican.com/video/ryan-gosling-talks-project-hail-mary-hopeful-science-fiction-and-the/Ryan Gosling chats to an astrophysicist | Project Hail Mary https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qj_AbV1Ph90“Science and Entertainment: How Astronomers Use Pop Culture References for Science Communication” Rey’s very old presentation that she hates: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJUxolp4A1A&t=411sSciComm Updates SciComm Bite Article “Can AI Make Science More Trustworthy?” https://substack.com/redirect/81eb98b4-cff9-4042-a22d-1f55baa2a869?j=eyJ1IjoiZWlwcm4ifQ.ocBOZMBfbkVwCTZAfvzZWNFqjwf-Z2HcvKglGYcEmF4The Science of SciComm e-summit, May 3, 8-4 ET https://www.theecowell.com/science-in-science-communication-esummitArtistic Expression of Original Research: Art based science communication improves the public's relationship to science and scientists https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/communication/articles/10.3389/fcomm.2026.1794106/abstract?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=emailExamining science and art collaborations through a social psychology lens reveals the need for Third Spaces https://jcom.sissa.it/article/pubid/JCOM_2405_2025_Y01/

In this candid conversation, hosts Reyhaneh and Stephanie explore the complex issues of creepiness, harassment, and boundaries within academic and social settings. They share personal stories, analyze social dynamics, and offer advice on handling uncomfortable situations with humor, assertiveness, and support.

The deficit model of communication, strategic messaging, and “THE EVIL BIG APPLE INDUSTRY” are all things Steph and Rey talk about in this episode. Listen to them discuss examples of how communicators could strategize to have impactful messages and break down strategic SciComm principles.   Deficit model of communicationhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_deficit_modelStrategic Science Communication: A Guide to Setting the Right Objectives for More Effective Public Engagementhttps://www.amazon.com/Strategic-Science-Communication-Objectives-Engagement-ebook/dp/B09QNSGDTYhttp://strategicsciencecommunication.com/stratscicomm-comics/Science Audience Engagement: An Audience Research Collaboration Guide for Media Professionals, Evaluators and Communication Researchershttps://www.kqed.org/crackingthecode