(Communication) Team work makes the dream work

Governance & Management

Science communication in the U.S.A. as exemplified by Harvard University’s Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering

BENJAMIN BOETTNER, PH.D.
SCIENCE COMMUNICATION AND MEDIA RELATIONS AT THE WYSS INSTITUTE FOR BIOLOGICALLY INSPIRED ENGINEERING AT HARVARD UNIVERSITY

The Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University with its strong emphasis of science translation essentially is a new breed of institute positioned at the interface of academic and industry research. Its overall goals, the development of technologies and devices with the potential for real-world impact in various medical and environmental areas, and its unique translational mechanisms to realize those goals also necessitate tailored communication strategies. The latter are designed to specifically address the different steps and accomplishments spanning the Institute’s trajectory between ideageneration and product development.