In the popular television comedy show “The Big Bang Theory,” a language barrier exists between the blonde aspiring actress and her nerdy neighbors, creating a multitude of laughs that speak volumes to a common crisis.

There is a reason for this show’s popularity – it pretty accurately displays the scientists-versus-average Joes world we live in. The show says science is for nerds and that its knowledge is unattainable. This conundrum is far too common in our society.

While positions are starting to be filled by professionals who bridge the gap in relaying information to the public, scientists need to distribute their findings with a more digestible and approachable communication method.

This is even more important in the environmental field, where active public input and compliance is necessary for a holistic approach to the issues.

However, because environmental science and forestry is so diverse, jargon is often specific to only one part of the field.

One would only need to walk across campus to the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry to discover the broad range of departments, majors and minors at the tiny college that often times seem more different than similar.

And there are many more niches and positions within the field than there are majors.

There are specializations in management of resources, their usage and waste disposal, as well as management of ecosystems and systems that are defined by their complexity. Some people are specialists on specific kinds of issues, animals or diseases. Others work to create policies to manage our world.

Even politicians have their own jargon, specific wording or terms among colleagues.

While communication within scientific fields can be very specific, those who communicate to the outside world need to develop serious interpretational skills.

To actively communicate to the public, there are two points that will guide scientists to share his or her information through digestible packets.

It’s important to use as little jargon as possible. Rattling off of terms that go over people’s heads causes them to become confused, or worse, lose interest. As a rule of thumb, terms that your grandmother wouldn’t understand probably should not go in any document or presentation for the public without ample description.

This goes for acronyms, as well. Letters may not hold meaning for all people. Even if your work is made possible by a new law, people might not know the abbreviation for it. It might just seem like common sense to you because of your level of familiarity in the field.

Sometimes jargon and acronyms can help your communication efforts. If speaking to members of a group, try to use their terminology and skill sets to deliver information and receive input. It will make your job a whole lot easier.

The second point might be even more vital to remember, though many scoff it off. Whether it is a result of inferiority complexes after continually being picked last in sixth-grade gym class, it is pervasive, even in comedies such as “The Big Bang Theory.”

Just because you’re good at science and have a degree does not mean that other people are stupid.

It is important to remember this because others do not have the same knowledge as you do, but have their own skill sets. Generalizing the public as stupid or ignorant only hampers scientists’ communication efforts.

Meg Callaghan is a senior environmental studies major at SUNY-ESF. Her column appears weekly. She can be reached at mlcallag@syr.edu.

Published on November 5, 2013 at 1:42 am