Professional Development Month: Making the Most of (Virtual) Site Visits

When reporters come out to visit a lab or some other research facility, both they and the PIOs who host them want the experience to be a great one. Too often, though, it can be a waste of time. Our panel of journalists and PIOs will discuss the pitfalls to avoid, and tips for how to make the experience productive for everyone. Among the topics: Who does the tours? How are they trained? What do you show off (one clean room looks like another)? Are table briefings actually better than dragging people around looking at shiny stainless steel? And is there a future for virtual tours of facilities that would actually be more interesting than the real thing?

Featured speakers include Susan Pell, deputy executive director at U.S. Botanic Gardens; Amy Bolton, public programs manager at U.S. Botanic Gardens (formerly of the Smithsonian Natural History Museum); and Rick Borchelt, director of communications and affairs at the Department of Energy’s Office of Science.

This event is free. Please register here: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_19oz5O14R_G-yZXyupZdxg