LFU:online

1. A clear understanding of communication, what gets in the way of communication, and why scientists often find it difficult to communicate effectively with non-expert audiences.

2. An understanding of the importance of audience, purpose, and message, and how to use them to share science effectively.

3. Strategies for overcoming common challenges faced by science communicators, using 1 & 2 above.

3. Exposure to a range of communication tools and channels, and an increased understanding of how they work, what works for different audeince, and how to tailor messages based on channel.

4. A better understanding of how to communicate to the right audience, using the right tools, and the right channel.

5. Practical experience in crafting, tailoring, and submitting 2 science communication contributions. 

1. What is science communication and what does it involve?

2. The challenges natural scientists face in getting their message across and how to address them.

(We’ll discuss and agree challenges—for example, filter bubbles & confirmation bias—and then work through practical strategies for countering challenges.)

3. Channels for communicating science and how to use them.

(We’ll look at the different channels available, and how to tailor communication for different channels and audiences.)     

A combination of theory, in-class individual and group exercises, and individual practice out-of-class, in which participants will have an opportunity to apply learning to share their current research.

Students may decide to carry out literature research and other independent research to support their communication practice.

Class participation:

> in small group discussions and in sharing small group findings with the larger group

> in providing constructive feedback to fellow participants when presenting their ideas for independent work and their results.

> in sharing practical experiences from independent work in class.

Independent work:

> creating at least two communication items for two different channels relating to your current research or research interests. This will involve presentation of ideas to fellow participants; identifying the right channel, purpose and audience; submitting and hopefully getting the communication “in front of your audience”.

Provided in each session in the form of relevant papers and academic procedings, as well as websites, videos, articles, and multi-media material.

This workshop is intended to be practical and adaptable to the developing needs of the students. There is some flexibility to switch out content to make it relevant - for example, if participants decide that communication channel A isn't relevant to their needs, we can discuss an alternative.