Collaboration is Key

Task

Pair up with at least one other classmate who is trying to answer a similar question. Collaborate to come up with a plan that will help both/all of you have a greater chance of success. Why collaborate? It’s useful to combine skills with someone else to strengthen your ideas and reach.

What to include:

1. Goal: What is the goal of your better question? How will science help answer the question? How will you engage stakeholders inside and outside of the scientific community? How will you ensure decision-makers hear about and weigh your science, your answer?
2. Identify: Determine what opportunities exist to advance your idea. Weigh the pros and cons of each opportunity and decide on the right avenue(s) to pursue. (Funding to pursue research; a research company to lead a study; a scientific body to endorse your idea; media to publicize your idea; meetings with decision-makers to ensure they weigh your idea.)
3. Analyze: Determine what skills and resources your group possesses to help promote your ideas. Note any skill gaps in the group and create a plan for how you can overcome these weaknesses.
4. Create a Timeline: Determine the steps you will take to build support and assign a timeline for each step.
5. Pitch: Create a clear and descriptive pitch that you can use to build support for your work. Make sure it’s short, energetic, interesting and explains the question you’re working to answer. Remember, your audience will have no knowledge of what you’re doing or why. And also remember, by collaborating, you’re working to ensure each idea in your group succeeds.

When your plan is complete, pitch your ideas to the audience you’ve determined can best help you, and get their feedback and/or support.