The Growing Need for Eloquent Scientists

            I stared at my score with disbelief; 47 hours and I had gotten a D on my exam.  That was 47 hours of studying for a single exam amidst all the other tumultuous activities, assignments, and aspects of my college life that needed tending to; and I still got a D.  That was a year ago.  Now, I am in my senior year of my undergraduate degree in microbiology, and I know firsthand what it’s like to be in the throes of a demanding scientific education.  However, being a senior, I have also had experiences bordering those of a microbiological career, such as doing research, communicating with other scientists, and being on the front lines of scientific presentations to the general public.  That last one was probably the most daunting, as I attempted to convey the results of my hard work to people who had no idea what I was talking about, as well as convince them of how they should follow what my research concluded about their responsibility to be vaccinated.  Although the course load for science students like you, is already considered intense, universities should require these students to excel in studying rhetoric in multiple classes because of the growing need for direct communication between scientists and the general public.  I would like to address this topic in the context of microbiology, utilizing examples from my time spent obtaining a Bachelor’s degree in this field, as well as from the perspective of someone who has seen the dire need for an increase in communication between these parties.