Word of mouth is a powerful tool. The first step towards addressing an issue is to raise the public’s awareness of it. Just casually mentioning the value of biomedical research is a good start.
If you are federally funded, let your neighbors, family, friends, and general community know it. Talk about the issues affecting your research and why other people should be aware of them.
If you are not a scientist but still concerned about biomedical research, let your neighbors, family, friends, and general community know. Make them aware of the important role different stages of research—from basic to clinical—play in developing the means to treat, prevent, and cure disease. Talk about how your life has been touched by scientific research.
Beyond the casual discussion is deliberate effort. Write letters to the editor your local paper about research issues or comment online about newspaper or television stories. You might even want to contact local media to suggest story ideas—just be sure to coordinate with your institution’s media relations office if the story is about research there.
Become a voice in the online world as well. Help spread the word using social media platforms such as Facebook or Twitter. If you have a blog, link to credible research information to give your readers a better understanding of the importance of federally funded research.
Legislators rely on feedback from their constituents. Scientists have great authority to speak to the value of medical research—let your elected representatives know what you think.
Check out our other resource pages like How to Contact Congress for what to say when you do.
It takes time to see results from advocacy efforts. The longer you can keep working, the more good it will do.
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