class: center, middle, inverse, title-slide # Lessons learned from becoming a public communicator of statistics and research results during the Covid 19 epidemic ### Claus Thorn Ekstrøm<br>UCPH Biostatistics<br>.small[<a href="mailto:ekstrom@sund.ku.dk" class="email">ekstrom@sund.ku.dk</a> ] ### Feb 2nd, 2022<br><svg aria-hidden="true" role="img" viewBox="0 0 512 512" style="height:1em;width:1em;vertical-align:-0.125em;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;font-size:inherit;fill:steelblue;overflow:visible;position:relative;"><path d="M459.37 151.716c.325 4.548.325 9.097.325 13.645 0 138.72-105.583 298.558-298.558 298.558-59.452 0-114.68-17.219-161.137-47.106 8.447.974 16.568 1.299 25.34 1.299 49.055 0 94.213-16.568 130.274-44.832-46.132-.975-84.792-31.188-98.112-72.772 6.498.974 12.995 1.624 19.818 1.624 9.421 0 18.843-1.3 27.614-3.573-48.081-9.747-84.143-51.98-84.143-102.985v-1.299c13.969 7.797 30.214 12.67 47.431 13.319-28.264-18.843-46.781-51.005-46.781-87.391 0-19.492 5.197-37.36 14.294-52.954 51.655 63.675 129.3 105.258 216.365 109.807-1.624-7.797-2.599-15.918-2.599-24.04 0-57.828 46.782-104.934 104.934-104.934 30.213 0 57.502 12.67 76.67 33.137 23.715-4.548 46.456-13.32 66.599-25.34-7.798 24.366-24.366 44.833-46.132 57.827 21.117-2.273 41.584-8.122 60.426-16.243-14.292 20.791-32.161 39.308-52.628 54.253z"/></svg> <span class="citation">@ClausEkstrom</span> --- class: animated, fadeIn layout: true --- background-image: url(pics/claus-young.jpg) background-size: 90% # Background --- background-image: url(pics/covid19.png) background-size: 100% # Covid 19 --- # Dissecting the Danish statistician * Background in maths / engineering * Academia (10%) / Industry (75%) / Research groups (10%) / Finance (5%) --- # Dissecting the Danish statistician * Background in maths / engineering * Academia (10%) / Industry (75%) / Research groups (10%) / Finance (5%) * Research designs? * Almost no application experience * NO research communication * NO experience in talking to researchers from other fields --- class: middle, center, inverse # What will happen to us? --- # The SIR model <!-- --> --- # The SIR model <!-- --> --- class: middle, center, inverse # Face masks --- background-image: url(pics/mask2.jpg) background-size: 100% # DANMASK study .pull-left[ The **face mask** group .center[1.8%]] .pull-right[ The **no face mask** group .center[2.1%]] <br> *"The between-group difference was −0.3 percentage points (95% CI, .yellow[−1.2 to 0.4 percentage point]; P = 0.38)"* --- class: inverse, middle, center # Lessons learned --- # Tips 1. Decide on the role *you* want to play 2. Ask what your role is supposed to be? 3. Try to keep control. 4. Know the journalist's workflow and deadlines. 5. Build a network. 6. Prepare one-liners and punch-lines. 7. Document what **isn't** published 8. Mistakes 9. Dance --- background-image: url(pics/why.png) background-size: 40% # What role do you want to play? <br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br> What are you comfortable with? It is okay to say no. ??? Why are you engaging with the media? --- # What role are you asked to play? Your first question to a journalist should be > *Is this for background? For quotes? To prep me for an interview?* Second question should be > *Have you planned any particular role for me?* -- **Beware** if the story is already written > "... and that is why we shouldn't eat concrete" says professor X. --- background-image: url(pics/book.jpg) background-size: 100% # Try to keep control .pull-left[Require that you get quotes back for verification.] .pull-right[Ask to see questions if possible before interview.] <br><br><br> Okay to say that something is outside your field. <br> Keep a little black notebook handy --- # Know the journalist's workflow and deadlines. Journalists' have deadlines too. And some make **news** ... -- ... **today**. Pick up the phone. Answer back. Ask about deadlines. Keep agreements. --- # Build a network of good media contacts Find out who is "fun to play with". -- Nurse these contacts Prep your network contacts in advance * Own research * Upcoming reports --- # Prepare one-liners and punch-lines. You cannot list all the caveats ... > *"The effects could either be 1.2 pp in one direction or 0.4 pp in the other direction. We simply don't know yet"* > *"Large uncertainty intervals aren't useless. They tell us that we don't know ... "* > *Better to know we have an uncertain estimate than wrongly believing too much in one.* --- # Also document what **isn't** published Get credit for *all* you're doing. Easy to list press clippings, interviews on tv, ... The proudest moments are the stories no one will see --- background-image: url(pics/oops.jpg) background-size: 100% # Mistakes will be made <br><br><br> You **will** make mistakes. That is okay. Own up to them. People like that. Your colleagues will poke fun at you ... -- ... but they are not the ones daring to get media time. --- background-image: url(pics/dance.jpg) background-size: 100% class: middle, center It will be fun. It will be ugly. It will be slightly out of control. -- # Dance! ??? If you have decided to enter the dance floor you dance.