They taught us useful things, he says. For instance, it s very important to stay in control of an interview. You always have the option to pull back to what you want to discuss. If a question is off-base, ask your own question. It s amazing now to see that dynamic.
Some people are really good at keeping the upper hand.
You have to go through it. Practice makes perfect, and Mezzacappa says the APS group s progress was noticeable even after the short course. The society hopes these scientists and others who follow in the program will be able to turn what they ve learned into a better public understanding of the importance of scientific research, even at its most basic. Mezzacappa wants to drive the bandwagon for astrophysics. It s important to break down these barriers, he says.