| Communicating science to non-scientists is critical to project success and occurs in many different settings and formats, from informal interactions to formal presentations. A common type of formal presentation is the public meeting, which is often used to disseminate information but can also be used to identify community concerns and solve problems. Effectively communicating science in a public meeting setting can be difficult. Success is based on many factors, and like collecting scientific information begins with correctly identifying the purpose and choosing the appropriate tool (i.e., meeting method). Graphical and verbal data presentation methods also impact the audience's understanding and acceptance of scientific data. Approaches used by California State Parks will be presented to illustrate methods of scientific communication in public meetings. |