ClimateSnack

I have recently discovered a new organisation called ClimateSnack. It's awesome!

ClimateSnack encourages researchers to translate their exciting climate research from academic speak into easily digestible "snacks" perfect for reading over a cup of tea.

The motivation behind ClimateSnack is to develop the skills of early stage researchers in climate science in writing for a general audience. Currently there are groups in Bergen and Imperial universities, and I am in the process of starting up a group at the University of Birmingham with the help of a post-doc in the geography department. 

The groups work as follows:

• A couple of group members draft an article ("snack") on a climate science topic of their choice.
• Before the meeting (they happen once a month), the snacks get sent round the group for everyone to read.
• When the group meets, the authors begin by reading their snack out loud to the group.
• The rest of the group give their comments and feedback.
• The authors go back to their laptops and finish off the snack. They then get their articles published on the ClimateSnack website.
• International ClimateSnackers can then also read the snack and give feedback to the authors.
• After receiving the feedback, the snackers can then put what they have learnt into practice and write another snack!

This cycle is an excellent way for researchers to develop their writing skills. Not only can you test run sections of your thesis introduction, student newspaper articles or blog posts; but by reading through other people's work you learn a phenomenal amount about what it is like to read work from a different field to yours. The process of giving feedback is also important in an academic environment, and ClimateSnack gives a great environment in which to practise. 

ClimateSnack treats writing for a wider audience the same as learning a new language: the ability to go through the ClimateSnack cycle a number of times brings the much needed repetition and an excellent way to track progress. The barrier to publishing your work online is broken down by the ability to test run the article before you make the (terrifying!) jump of putting yourself 'out there'.

For those group members who don't even know where to start, ClimateSnack offers online courses which are excellent. These are definitely worth a watch!

I introduced the concept of ClimateSnack to UoB researchers at the last graduate school "TGS Fridays" event and it went down pretty well! Looks like we will have a group ready for an inaugural meeting in January, which is great news. 

If you are a researcher in climate science at Birmingham and want to find out more information then get in touch @RDscience or via the comment box below.

For more information visit the ClimateSnack website, and/or follow @ClimateSnack on twitter.