Local Colleges and Universities

Including film programs; science departments, research centers, institutes and laboratories; student science and environmental organizations; and foreign-language departments (if you’re showing a foreign-language film). Department administrators and undergraduate/graduate program coordinators can be very helpful in getting the word out to students.

If your speaker is an academic, don’t forget to reach out to PR/communications reps at the school where he/she teaches. They like to know about faculty members’ speaking engagements and may be able to augment your marketing and publicity efforts.

High Schools

If your event is appropriate for high school students, reach out to science teachers and/or science club advisors. In addition, local science teachers' associations may be willing to spread the word to their members.

Professional Associations

National societies (for example, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, the Association of Computing Machinery, the American Chemical Society, the Association for Women in Science) may have a local chapter in your area. Many cities also have their own professional science and technology associations or councils.

Local Companies

The Coolidge has hosted speakers involved in robotics, video game development, and biotechnology, among other fields, and marketing efforts have included promoting the program to companies in those areas. Marketing and human resources directors can be a good “in.”

Community Organizations

Which organizations you approach will depend on your film and topic, but examples include environmental organizations, hospitals and healthcare organizations (for example, local branches of the American Heart Association, the American Lung Association, and the American Cancer Society), science museums, planetariums, aquariums, animal welfare organizations, amateur astronomers’ groups, science fiction associations, LGBT organizations, and so forth.

Online Communities

Such as Yelp, Meetup groups, and discussion groups and forums.

The Speaker’s Own Network

Ask your speakers if they would like to provide you with a list of people to contact as part of your outreach.