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Keith's note: New NASA Advisory Council Communications Subcommitee chair @milesobrien just Twittered: "If you were creating an all-star team of people to help NASA improve its efforts in education and outreach, whom would you select?"
NASA Advisory Council Meeting, 29 Oct, NASA ARC
Print this articleMost of the people I know who are really good at education and outreach are already completely busy. Steve Squyres, for example, is an amazing presenter. Jim Bell's photographs of Mars are some of the best outreach ever. But I think both of these are already overwhelmed with things to do, and don't need to be invited to yet another a committee. For that matter, there are a lot of people at the NASA speaker's bureau here who give dozens of excellent presentations at schools and social groups, with the only recognition within NASA being a nice little trinket at a ceremony every couple of years.
Phil Plait, the "bad astronomer," would be a good suggestion-- I think I'd suggest him, if he's not already on the list. And the Astronomy Picture of the Day team, Robert Nemiroff & Jerry Bonnell.
People inside or outside of NASA who have a track record of advocacy and success in leading the charge of developing new strategies, new messages and new products.
People who know how and are practitioners in communicating the inspirational value of space flight or exploration as evidenced by their past work.
People who are educated in and know the value of education, communications and marketing.
People who know and can use media, high tech and old tech.
replied to comment from Gudnitz
| October 29, 2009 10:24 PM
| Reply
I agree that I'd put one or two people who have the NASA experience if there is going to be some kind of an advisory group.
At least in human space flight, I'd be careful of how I find them, though. For something like a NAC advisory panel, chaired by someone like Miles Obrian, the NASA management are likely to name some lead management people.
In the area of communications, public affairs, or education, probably more so than technical areas, none of the managers in human space flight, none are accomplished. None have any substantive background. Certainly none have shown signs of innovative leadership.
Usually they've been placed in their positions because of political situations. In HSF, management does not care about these 'soft' areas. Its the reason why they need the help of Miles Obrian in the first place.
You'd need to reach down into the organization to find someone who has shown some aptitude in these areas, and that is not likely to get past management.
You would be better off finding someone who had been with NASA, but left because of their frustration with the stifling bureaucracy.
4 Comments
I'd include some folks inside NASA already working hard to improve those areas.