NCSE's Director of Community Science Education Kate Carter was interviewed (PDF) by the American Association for the Advancement of Science's Dialogue on Science, Ethics, and Religion in a series on "Profiles in Science Engagement with Faith Communities."
The goal of NCSE's community science education program is to help people become more comfortable with science in general. "With our activities," Carter explained, "the idea is that people will walk away feeling like the distances between themselves and a scientist in much less than they built up in their head." She added, "It isn't enough to be able to communicate with just the people who already want to listen; you need to be able to reach the people beyond, because those are the people where it can make the biggest difference."
The interview concluded with Carter's advice for those just getting started in public science engagements with religious communities: "The only way to learn is to go out and do it, but you also have to be willing to change your approach. Combine boldness and flexibility."
