LFU:online

Are you interested in learning how to share your research with audiences who know nothing about your field?

Would you like to practice presenting your work in English, so that you come across confidently, clearly, and authentically?

And are you curious to explore how your research connects to sustainability, using the SDGS (Sustainable Development Goals), whatever your discipline?

This practical, workshop-style course will give you the tools to do exactly that.

Over four intensive half-days, you'll work on how to distil your research into its essentials, how to connect it to bigger questions about sustainability (all aspects: social, economic, political and environmental), and how to use storytelling to get your message across to people who aren't experts in what you do. You'll also learn a process to help you reframe your research, and its relevance, for audiences beyond academia.

You'll give and receive feedback in an interdisciplinary group, sharpen your thinking through peer exchange, and put everything together for the final day: a live public event, with a jury and a People's Choice vote, where you'll present your research using the 3MT (3-minute thesis) format — one slide, three minutes, one real audience.

You'll be coached throughout by a science communication coach and trainer who has worked with thousands of researchers across Europe to help them communicate their work more effectively.

You'll leave with transferable skills that you can use in academia and beyond, in any language, as well as clearer understanding of your own strengths, and (hopefully!) a story about your research you're proud to share.

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In more formal language:

By the end of this programme, students will be able to:

• reflect on the relevance, timeliness, authority and usefulness (information literacy) of their own work in the context of sustainability and science communication (broadly defined)
• synthesise appropriate information from a variety of sources
• constructively build on contributions from others, synthesize them
• support other team members in completing their tasks and provide constructive feedback (teamwork)
• present their research question to an audience appropriately and effectively, using a delivery technique that makes the presentation understandable and interesting to non-experts (oral communication); choose and/or generate a graphic representation that supports their presentation (Integrative learning: Integrative communication)
• describe how their own learning has changed over time and name contextual factors for this
• name and describe their own strengths and weaknesses (Integrative learning: Reflection and self-assessment)

So what can expect in terms of content?

1. Pre-reading (literature) to help you think strategically about science communication, sustainability and your research
2. Practical tools and techniques to help you plan, structure, and craft a public-facing presentation about your research
3. Input and time to practice using your "instrument" - voice, body language, and presence - so that you can deliver effectively
4. Skill-building through team input, as well as individual and small group coaching
5. Application of new skills in a real-world setting, with a 3MT* flash talk

* The 3MT (3-Minute Thesis) presentation is a 3-minute presentation that will be crafted during the first 4 days. On the final day, we wll have  a live event, with a jury, who will assess each presentation against a set of pre-defined criteria. The public audience will also be able to vote for the so-called "People's Choice." The 3MT event format comes from the University of Queensland and is an excellent opportunity apply science communication in a real-world situation.

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In more formal language:

• Literature study and reflection (oral and written)
• Methods of (oral) communication (story-telling)
• Methods of communication (visual presentation)
• Teamwork and feedback (support from and through others)
• 3MT Presentation 

input, coaching, peer-learning, final "live event" and  reflection session (follow-up)

This course is awarded a pass-fail course.

To pass, you will need to:

• Attended all of the sessions
• Present your 3-minute presentation on Friday as part of the three-minute thesis event.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (UN)
https://sdgs.un.org/2030agenda

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The UN Sustainable Development Goals: Contributions from the Humanities
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/institute-of-advanced-studies/research/un-sustainable-development-goals-sdgs-contributions-humanities

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Rickinson, M. (2016) 'Communicating research findings', In: D. Wyse, E. Smith, L. E. Suter and N. Selwyn (Eds) The BERA/Sage Handbook Of Educational Research.

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Intemann, K. (2023). Science communication and public trust in science. Interdisciplinary Science Reviews, 48(2), 350–365. https://doi.org/10.1080/03080188.2022.2152244

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Nichols, T. (2018). The death of expertise. Oxford University Press. - Introduction only

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UKRI: The benefits of public engagement for researchers
https://www.ukri.org/publications/the-benefits-of-public-engagement-for-researchers/

Master's students (or doctoral students) from all subject areas who wish to take up the challenge of presenting their research questions (Master's thesis, dissertation) from a sustainability perspective.

You will need to have an idea of your research question, as you will build on this to create your 3-minute presentation for the final event.

This course is an Aurora Alliance (AURORA – Universität Innsbruck (uibk.ac.at) event. 

All students of all Aurora universities are invited to apply for participation in this course from January 08 till January 21, 2026 at the following link. After this date, registration via LFU:online  is possible for Innsbruck and Erasmus students, given there are still places: https://www.uibk.ac.at/en/international/aurora/aurora-course-offerings/universitat-innsbruck/

Please note: Students from Aurora partner universities must check with their home universities regarding any mobility grants!

Together with the course 800872 Lecture series on climate protection the course forms the Aurora micro-credential Climate Action & Sustainability Communication.