When Communicating with Diverse Audiences, Use Velcro to Make Science Stick

Abstract

Many people use Velcro, that two‐layer fabric with tiny loops on one side and hooks on the other, for everything from fastening shoes to bundling computer cords, but few would think of using it as a tool for communication. I have found, however, two distinct but related rhetorical uses for it. First, Velcro can be used as an analogy for how people learn, a useful insight for anyone whose goal is to teach or inform. Second, VELCRO can also be used as a mnemonic device for remembering six strategies that improve both written and oral communication. Together, these uses of VELCRO help address the challenges that scientists face when communicating about science with diverse audiences, including those we address in classrooms, scientific meetings, or public venues, and those we target in scientific, interdisciplinary, or popular writing.