Science communication tools: rubrics for generating posters and manuscripts that are authentic to the practice of science
Traditional undergraduate science courses often prioritize content mastery over authentic engagement with the scientific process. Course-based research, also referred to as course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs), addresses this limitation by immersing students in authentic scientific practice. In course-based research, assessment practices can also mirror the authentic scientific practice, where extensive formative feedback supports refinement of skills and understanding. Here, we present two rubrics designed to support the teaching and assessment of science communication in a way that reflects how scientists prepare to disseminate their research findings. One rubric is for creating scientific posters and another for writing short-format manuscripts. Developed by approximately 100 faculty members who collaboratively implement CUREs through the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Science Education Alliance (SEA) program, these rubrics outline the authentic steps scientists take when preparing to communicate their research and provide performance levels that clarify expectations for both students and instructors. Together, these tools aim to further align undergraduate science education and authentic scientific practice.
Authors
- Jacob D. Kagey (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6994-1795)
- Iain Duffy
- Victoria Frost (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4929-0873)
- Kristen Butela (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1463-5288)
- Ombeline Rossier (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4987-1811)
- Christine A. Byrum (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6653-7922)
- Dondra Bailey
- Ellen Wisner (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0733-0021)
- Christine Fleischacker
- María Alejandra Mussi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4168-3624)
- James T. Melton (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3335-5129)
- Vassie C. Ware (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1604-5628)
- Mauricio S. Antunes (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5453-1531)
- Kathryn P. Kohl (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0004-5738-5105)
- Sean T. Coleman (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3609-1402)
- Vipaporn Phuntumart
- Frederick N. Baliraine (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4054-2467)
- Erin Doyle (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9880-7440)
- Yesmi Ahumada-Santos
- Beth M. Wilkes (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0003-9666-3350)
- Danielle M. Heller (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6581-1256)
- Quinn Vega
- Sharon Gusky
- Tejas Bouklas
- Tiara Pérez Morales (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0005-1880-1599)
- Viknesh Sivanathan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7163-4543)
- Sergei A. Markov (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4520-4539)
- Regina V. Alvarez
- Fernando E. Nieto
- Kara Thoemke
- Suparna Bhalla
- Mitchell F. Balish (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2606-5481)
- Rebekah F. Hare
- Deborah M. Tobiason
- Hari Kotturi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6448-7167)
- Jessica M. Rocheleau (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1088-7277)
- Eric M. Engstrom
- Christy Fillman (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9017-9742)
- Heather Lindberg
- Tonya C. Bates
- Arturo Diaz (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4174-8950)
- Elizabeth E. Rueschhoff (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8268-0905)
- Alyssa M. Gleichsner (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4874-8344)
- Imade Y. Nsa (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5606-268X)
- Elvira R. Eivazova
- Bryan Gibb (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2094-344X)
- Sarah Swerdlow (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0002-4150-753X)
- Brett E Pickett (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7930-8160)
- Adam D. Rudner (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0301-1042)
- Kari Clase (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2749-6440)
- Pamela L. Connerly
- Sara S. Tolsma (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2687-4457)
- Rebecca L. Bortz
- Holly Nance
- Aimee H. Danley
- Megan Carroll
- Bhaswati Manish
- María Elena Báez-Flores
- Lisa Bono
- Kristen Clermont
- Matthew David Mastropaolo
- Dustin Cole Edwards
- Sarah N. Reardon
- Naomi Smith Rowland
- Michèle Barmoy
- Richard Scott Pollenz
- Dave Bollivar
- Tara Turley-Stoulig
- Tom D'Elia
- Ricardo Parra-Unda
- Nancy Castro
- Steven Gaines Cresawn
- Daniel Eric Westholm
- Sally Dixon Molloy
- Kirk R. Anders
- Christa Tobey Bancroft
- Jackie M. Washington
- Tamarah Lynne Adair
- Amaya Garcia Costas
- Julia Lee-Soety
- Martha Smith Caldas
- Steven Caruso
- Karen K. Klyczek
- Shallee T. Page
- Daniel Williams
- Swati Agrawal
- Lee E. Hughes
- Jon Mitchell
- Julie Torruellas Garcia
- Denise L. Monti
- Andrea Beyer
- Bridgette Kirkpatrick
- Kissaou Tchedre
- Patricia Waikel
- Catherine Ward
- Elizabeth Williams
- C. Nicole Sunnen
- Megan K. Dennis
- Mary Ayuk
Publication Details
- Journal
- Maryland Shared Open Access Repository (USMAI Consortium)
- Published
- 2026-02-24
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.13016/m2scjs-5658
- Primary Topic
- Various Chemistry Research Topics
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00