Stand up for Science: Practical Approaches to Discussing Science that Matters

Learn More About Joe's Big Idea

The special project Joe's Big Idea (JBI) was started by NPR Science Correspondent Joe Palca in 2012. Joe wanted to step back from the way science stories are typically reported– as a series of results – and focus instead on the process and people of science. How do scientists work? What is research really like? Who are these people who dedicate themselves to the pursuit of knowledge?

Joe also wanted to explore how an idea becomes an invention: many of his stories focus on the steps involved in taking something from innovation to product.

A second focus of JBI is community building. To help young scientists build their communication skills, Joe created Friends of Joe’s Big Idea (pronounced foe-JOE-bee). We now have a network for more than 280 young scientists and science enthusiasts eager to connect with one another as well as work with Joe and his producer, Madeline Sofia on their communication skills.

Here are some of the benefits of becoming a FOJBI: 

• Access to a comprehensive map outlining current outreach events across the country as well as a community on the social media platform Slack. The Slack platform allows students to connect across the country, plan meet-ups, as well as share ideas. 
• Joe's Big Idea holds a peer-review style exercise every month called ""Office Hours"". In this exercise, FOJBIs write and edit written, audio, or video pieces. Through collaborations with various online blogs, these works can be published. Thus, office hours serve not only as a practical exercise, but an opportunity to build FOJBIs resumes.  
• We provide a platform to disseminate good practices in science communication. Through online efforts and outreach events, this project seeks to train and empower the next generation of science communicators.