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Apologies for cross-posting. If you've ever considered using student interns or volunteers as part of your work communicating science, then have a read of our paper "Utilising students in Science Communication activities: Benefits and limitations". Written as a quick guide for the professional science communicator, it highlights ways that students can add value to your activities, the real costs of having them on board, what they gain from involvement, how to go about recruiting and more! Recognised as part of the Best Paper Session at the 2004 Australian Science Communicators' conference, you can download a copy at http://www.onset.unsw.edu.au/asc/ Comments and feedback from your experience is encouraged! -- Regards Martin Drinkwater Australian Science Communicators (NSW) Student Rep -------------------------------------------------- Visit the website: www.asc.asn.au Title of paper: Utilising students in Science Communication activities: Benefits and limitations Abstract: The growth in the number and scope of Science Communication activities in Australia presents an opportunity for young people to gain experience in the Public Communication of Science and Technology (PCST). The use of student interns offers many benefits for the host organisation: they can provide alternative skills and viewpoints, flexibility in functions and tasks completed by individuals, while reducing the overall workload and cost required to make Science Communication activities happen. Coupled with this are potential limitations on student involvement, including difficulty in matching skills and workload, along with their lack of foresight and experience. Will students take the jobs of professional science communicators or is there a logical progression of roles towards professional status, increasing in responsibility and remuneration? This paper presents case studies from museums and organisations conducting science outreach activities. The viewpoints of project managers utilising student interns and the students themselves are presented. Methods of garnering student involvement and lessons learnt by student-interns are also addressed. ********************************************************************** 1. To suspend yourself from the list, whilst on leave, for example, send an email to [log in to unmask] with the following message: set psci-com nomail 2. To resume email from the list, send the following message: set psci-com mail 3. To leave psci-com, send an email to [log in to unmask] with the message: leave psci-com 4. Further information about the psci-com discussion list, including list archive, can be found at the list web site: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/psci-com.html 5. The psci-com gateway to internet resources on science communication and science and society can be found at http://psci-com.org.uk **********************************************************************