What are the best practices for communicating geologic data to non-technical audiences?

People make the mistake to want to talk about the data themselves – it’s not a about the data, it’s about the story they tell. The data are a ‘prop’ to show that what you are saying does not come from thin air, but most of the time, the public or any geologists who is not ultra-specialist like you, don’t really care and just want to here about what new science has been discovered. So I would say, avoid technical plots, and focus more on simplified sketch that convey your ideas and conclusions. As always, messages reach people better if they are embedded in stories. So to reach your audience, become a story teller.

There are various ways geologic data can be communicated to non technical audience, technical team has to re-work/analyzed data into pictographic, with now everyday english explanation and description of the data, providing examples during presentation to non-technical audience.

A pivotal strategy involves emphasizing significant results and findings while avoiding the mention of subclasses. Striking a balance between general and precise language is essential. The effectiveness of this approach is contingent upon the audience's specific interests, ensuring that the conveyed information aligns with their preferences and facilitates a clearer understanding of complex geological data, ultimately promoting informed decision-making and accessibility.

Being able to channel your inner David Attenborough to explain some highly complex messages in a way the audience will be able to relate to and understand is always key. I was once told to pitch your presentation / talk / paper to the lowest common denominator when it comes to the reader/audience. Has anyone else heard that phase, "explain it like I'm my 80 year old granny"? Now, ignoring the obvious slight to that age group/gender by assuming they wouldn't be smart enough or aware enough to understand, it implies a need for simplicity. I have always found that to be too simplistic. Keeping the message clear while presenting it in multiple ways, to multiple levels to a single audience can ensure understanding across the board.

Geology is not my expertise but with a Bachelors in Science, Pre-med I would say just use common names for things whenever you can. Many women give up quickly if the terminology is more complicated than needs to be.

I have always found a mix of formats to present data or stories is vital. Being interactive, highly visual and clear in any style can keep the audience interested and even injecting questions to ensure continued understanding is useful. When presenting or reporting, the old adage of "a picture says a thousand words" is always useful to bear in mind. Being able to display stratigraphic data alongside hardware borehole information and then interpretation of the subsurface can clear any questions before they are asked. Pulling it all together in an effective display is always important.

Aim your presentation exactly at the level of technical understanding of your audience. Aim too high and they will see you as a boffin. Aim too low and they will see you as a fool. Either way, they will stop listening.

When explaining a concept or geological idea, it is always helpful to use real world/present day comparisons to explain what you mean. Discussing the fluvial system evolution through the Middle Jurassic?...bring it back to a known present day analog (for example, discuss the Amazon, Nile or Mississippi Rivers). Talking about the shoreface facies of the Upper Devonian sandstone aquifer you identified?... ask who's been to a sandy beach and noticed the ripples from the tides. Bring it back to the present day, real world places they see and visit all the time. That way they can relate more easily.

Use stories of how the data has, or will, affect real people. People care about things that happen to people. Only geologists care about things that happen to rocks.