This month, the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science at Stony Brook University will launch a new series of programs designed to help scientists, researchers and medical professionals share their science, and make online communication more personal.

The new initiative, Alda Online, will offer a series of three-hour live learning experiences designed to help scientists strengthen their communication skills.

The programs will launch every two weeks throughout the spring and early summer, and focus on diverse topics including preparing for media interviews, working with policymakers, building a digital media presence, and connecting science and public health.

"In the past few years, we've been able to train 15,000 scientists to improve their powers of communication in dynamic face-to-face workshops. Now, just when good communication can save thousands of lives a day, face-to-face training isn't possible," said Alan Alda, actor, activist, author and founder of the Alda Center for Communicating Science.

For the past decade, the Alda Center has offered one- and two-day science communication workshops for private clients, including universities, government agencies, non-profit organizations and corporate clients.