The challenge faced by science in the United States isn’t that scientists are awkward and bad at communication. It’s that we’re beset by propaganda and mass media channels funded by corrupt billionaires to sow confusion.
We need big, generously funded communications channels dedicated to verifiable reality. Scientists who are slightly better at talking isn’t going to cut it.
@alexwild You have put your finger exactrly on the big problem. Its even gotten worse since Social Media can tailor the message to the individual. We can't broadcast our message to millions, but we can do a little of the "tailoring our message" part.
Our opponents seem to be highly motivated. Go to any popular science or progressive video and look in the comments. There will be trolls trying to win people over to their side. Fortunately they aren't very good at it, and it's obvious that they are trolls, but it shows how motivated they are.
Trolling is a cheap method of activism, and it can be effective for us if we are smarter than our opponents. Pretend to be one of them and don't tip your hand. Sow division and suspicion among them. Take a page from their own playbook, and "just ask questions". Use Street Epistemology to foster Critical Thinking among the audience.
It won't be fun visiting the places where they go, and it might involve saying some distasteful things, but every time I have doubts I remind myself how motivated they are, and I can't let them be more motivated for less reason.
