Science offers boundless solutions for today’s immense natural resource challenges, but only if communicated and broadcasted effectively. Science and Communication specialist Lara Murray was recently recognized for her top-notch science communication skills and public service by Performance.gov through the #GovPossible campaign.

With an emphasis on government accountability, Performance.gov communicates the goals and outcomes the federal government is working to accomplish, how it seeks to accomplish them, and how agencies are performing. As a carry-over from Public Service Recognition Week, Performance.gov celebrated federal employee efforts to deliver a smarter, leaner and more effective government. The group works to highlight progress underway to cut waste, streamline government and improve performance.

Murray has worked in the Research and Development Knowledge Management and Communications group for over one year. Combining her background in tropical forestry and carbon accounting with a flair for science communication, Murray delivers Forest Service science to a wide range of customers by developing written material and visual aids to support staff in the Research and Development arm of the Forest Service nationally. She also edits technical reports, blogs, factsheets, newsletters and pamphlets to ensure that the end message will be clear to readers both with and without science backgrounds. Some of her preferred mediums include SCIENCEx webinars that respond directly to land manager needs as well as the monthly R&D Newsletter. Its subscriber base of over 13,000 spans scientific, academic and industry sectors and crosses national boundaries.

Her extensive experience working with carbon accounting and capacity-building tools has led to her undertaking a special assignment to focus on developing new communication tools designed to highlight Forest Service research in these areas.