Sense & Respond: Two-Way Communication

Session 3 explores how scientists can move beyond one-way dissemination and begin engaging in meaningful dialogue with diverse publics. We look at how to sense what different audiences think, feel, fear, or hope for, and how to respond in ways that build understanding, trust, and legitimacy. Through practical tools—storytelling, framing, segmentation, audience cues, heuristics and biases, and strategies for public meetings—participants learn how to adapt their narrative, acknowledge concerns, and communicate with empathy. The session equips researchers to shift from “matters of fact” to “matters of concern,” creating communication that resonates with real people in real contexts.