Science Communication
The parks and their partners have learned a great deal about the parks’ natural resources through inventories and monitoring, research, and restoration and management. In many cases though, just knowing what’s out there isn’t enough to effectively fulfill the National Park Service’s mission to "...conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wild life therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations." (National Park Service Organic Act, 16 U.S.C.1) .
In order to meet this lofty mandate, it is vital that the information and data gathered by the parks gets to those who need it in a compelling and understandable way. This is no small feat, as the audiences for this information range from park staff at all levels, to other agencies, organizations, decision-makers, and the public. This is where good science communication comes into play. The San Francisco Bay Area national parks and their partners are continuously striving to improve the quantity, quality, and flow of information. Recent advancements include the launch of this website, the production of more multimedia pieces, improvements to existing communication methods like newsletters and symposia, and greater collaboration with park interpreters, educators and partners. Learn more from the links below and to the right.
Some of the ways we are sharing stories about our incredible park resources include:
 Multimedia – Writing about great white sharks is great, but showing them getting tagged by researchers off the Bay Area coast is really something to see. Video and audio slideshows are a visually dynamic way to teach about park resources, restoration projects, research, and more. |
 Monthly Updates – Every month park and partner staff members get an e-mail summary of some of the main natural resource highlights. |
 Resource Briefs – These two-pagers offer succinct summaries of park natural resources, research, and restoration projects for those who want a synthesized version of what may only otherwise be available in longer technical reports. |
 Parks for Science – A semi-annual newsletter with more in-depth stories about park science. |
 Brown Bags – Hearing first-hand from those working in the field and getting to ask them questions is a wonderfully interactive way to learn about park science. Point Reyes National Seashore has had a brown bag lunch series for years and the Golden Gate National Recreation Area is starting one as well. |
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Symposia
