It seems simply stating the size of the event would make the remaining
opportunities you describe obvious. I can't really write a thesis on an
event I'm doing for free and spending a few $k of my own money to make
happen - it's not my regular job.
Also, I am told people have an aversion to reading/seeing long emails.
In my experience people have an aversion to reading/seeing ANY email (or
voicemail, phone call, smoke signal, carrier pigeon letter, mailer....
any form of communication) so maybe my point is moot.
It's probably best that I just give up on ISI (the organization I came
up with but is apparently stunningly unpopular) and organizing large
sections and plan on doing a single table by myself (like I do
everything else) in hears I want to go to USA Sci Fest. A lot cheaper
that way and, even better, I don't have to rely on humans.
* I wise old proverb: "If it is to be, it will be done by me."
On 12/4/2017 9:25 AM, Nicole Holstein wrote:
There is also an oversaturation of volunteer requests, it seems. There
is so much work going on these days, which is great, but not enough
funding, so there are just a ton of efforts that rely on volunteer
work to happen. I know of 2 or 3 requests for volunteers in my
department as it is right now.
I think more targeted messaging with clear and substantial benefits
for volunteering will result in a higher response rate. For example,
targeting local invertebrate and entomology graduate students and
offering free admission to the festival (and not just on the days they
volunteer) and food while they work would be good. Communicating what
an opportunity for learning and networking the job is, too, will help,
as will stressing that helping with events like this festival is vital
for getting the next generation of entomologists and invertebrate
biologists interested in the field.
I happen to know a person who just graduated with an MS in
entomology in the DC area, and he hasn't even heard of the opportunity
to volunteer, or even that there is an invertebrate section to the
Science and Engineering Festival. So even though your outreach is
large, it may not be reaching the right people.
*Nicole Holstein*
304-437-5876
Follow teststamp on Twitter <http://www.twitter.com/nicoleeoli12>
<http://www.linkedin.com/in/nicoleholstein/>
On Sun, Dec 3, 2017 at 2:07 PM, Brian Turner <bctur...@pdx.edu
<mailto:bctur...@pdx.edu>> wrote:
Aaron,
I think Adam has a good point, in particular in regards to just
missing emails due to the daily deluge. I had instinctively
deleted your initial email asking for insight and just happened to
take notice of his response.
I do outreach related to invertebrates (mostly invasive species or
marine organisms) when I can. On my end it boils down to 1) do I
have the time to do outreach and meet my personal/work obligations
and 2) do I have money to cover any associated costs. With mass
emails, much of your audience may not be local. Unless you have
funding to cover travel (maybe you do, I haven't seen the original
request) then a big chunk of your audience will immediately reject
the idea. And even if you have the funding, potential volunteers
would have to consider the impact of time spent in transit as well
as volunteering. I know these are hardly new observations, but
still worth keeping in mind.
Brian
On Sun, Dec 3, 2017 at 8:36 AM, Adam Eichenwald <sma...@mac.com
<mailto:sma...@mac.com>> wrote:
I would bet that the problem is an extension of the “bystander
effect” (When it comes to people in trouble, wikipedia states
: "onlookers see that others are not helping either, that
onlookers believe others will know better how to help, and
that onlookers feel uncertain about helping while others are
watching").
I’d think that by asking for volunteers on large social media
platforms, you’re A) opening yourself up to an electronic
version of the bystander effect, where people think “I would,
but I’m super busy. I’m sure someone else will do this
instead.” B) Falling into a hole due to the hundreds of emails
that we all get every day from these listservs and potentially
being ignored.
Generally to get around the bystander effect when someone is
in trouble, you’re supposed to point to someone in particular
and say “you call 911.” Maybe you’d get better responses if
you send these emails out to the listserv and have a few
colleagues already prepped to “reply all” and announce
their intention of volunteering? That way you’d also ensure
people are getting pinged repeatedly and would be more likely
to volunteer as well.
I’m not a social psychologist so I’m kind of shooting in the
dark here.
On Dec 3, 2017, at 10:04 AM, Aaron T. Dossey
<bugoc...@gmail.com <mailto:bugoc...@gmail.com>> wrote:
Once again I have floated around invitations to help with the
invertebrate section of the USA science and engineering
festival to literally thousands of people on social media and
2 "major" ento and ecolog email listservs , for months, and
once again not a single response. (Also to many private zoos
and museums etc). This is the largest science outreach event
in North America.
In fact I've been trying this for 3 years if you count my
efforts trying to recruit volunteers for the 2016 one which
also has as of yet gotten no response.
Why is this so impossible? Do universities not do outreach
in these fields anymore or do faculty, students and staff no
longer volunteer for anything or respond to emails?
If these things are to continue to exist whatsoever yes
people will have to start communicating, volunteering and
working with others at other organizations beyond a 1 mile
radius of their employer. With last week's feudalist
austerity bill establishing a firm and steep caste system in
this country, there isn't going to be money for this stuff so
people will have to volunteer for stuff like this or it won't
happen.
Thoughts?
* note that I did this event in 2012 and 2014 without funding
and it worked out great so it CAN be done.
Sent from my iPhone
--
Brian Turner, PhD
Department of Environmental Science & Management
Portland State University (ESM), PO BOX 751,
Portland, OR 97207
Email: bctur...@pdx.edu
<mailto:bctur...@pdx.edu>
ATD of ATB and ISI
--
Aaron T. Dossey, Ph.D.
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
http://cricketpowder.com/curriculum-vitae/
NEW BOOK OUT!: Insects as Sustainable Food Ingredients
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ABOUT: http://cricketpowder.com/about-us/
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