EUniWell Research Communications Programme for Doctoral Candidates

18/11/2022 to 09/12/2022

EUniWell Zoom EUniWell-Event

WORKSHOPS Vol2.

The picture shows a group of four young people sitting together at a table in a bright library room. Three of them are looking at a laptop screen and smiling. A blonde woman stands behind them and exchanges a high-five with one of them, who turns to her.

About the Programme

The EUniWell Research Communications Programme is designed for PhD candidates who are interested in science communication. 

This online programme focuses on practical, interactive sessions to get started in engaging different audiences with the PhD candidates’ scientific research. 

As EUniWell values interdisciplinarity and the learning that can come from mixing different interests, expertise and perspectives, this programme is open to PhD candidates from all Graduate Schools of the eight EUniWell partner universities (Birmingham, Cologne, Florence, Leiden, Linnaeus, Murcia, Nantes and Semmelweis).

Aim of the programme

Engaging different audiences (general public, local communities, scientific public, business people, science journalists) can strengthen young researchers’ academic profiles. 

The participants of the programme will be able to:

  • Gain an awareness of audience types and their needs
  • Identify the most engaging part of their research
  • Experience developing messages for their research
  • Explain why and how they should engage the public with their research
  • Network with other engaged young researchers and supportive public engagement professionals from the EUniWell partner universities

How it works?

In this online programme the teachers/trainers will give presentations and facilitate interactive sessions, group discussions and exercises in which the participants practice their presentation / storytelling / networking / pitching / interviewing skills.

The programme consists of four modules and an extra module per courses, aimed to provide deep insight into the related science communication topics and also personal advice for participants.

Timing

  • Planned dates:
    • Course 1: First module on 17 November 2022 and second module on 1 December 2022                  
    • Course 2: First module on 18 November 2022 and second module on 9 December 2022
  • Extra module: January 2023                                      
  • Duration: Every module: 10:00 – 16:00 CEST (break: 12:30-13:30)
  • Format: Online Zoom meeting
  • Language: English
  • Participants: PhD candidates from EUniWell partner universities
  • Limitation: 12-18 applicants per course can attend (2 PhDs / course from each partner university)

Modules / courses

1. Module: How to explain your PhD in an easily understandable way

  • Planned dates: 17 November 2022 (group 1) and 18 November 2022 (group 2)
  • Speaker/trainer: Gabriele Hess-Fernandez, Science journalist and lecturer, Nantes Université
  • Focus on science to laymen audiences, society at large.

This session is designed to get you started in science communication and audience awareness.

Have you experienced this frustration of struggling to find the words to explain to your family what you are doing in your job as a PhD? This session offers clues on how to improve your odds of communicating successfully your research to lay audience. You will learn how to put your audience at the center of your thought process. Get from Gabriele first-hand insights into how professional TV journalists adapt the science to specific lay audiences. Include a personal tone, use personal experiences and anecdotes alongside concrete examples for establishing a connection and creating common ground.

We will argue or take sides on an issue, connect, collaborate and share stories!

2. Module: How to communicate your science to business people

  • Planned dates: 1 December (group 1) and 9 December (group 2)
  • Speakers/trainers:
  • Focus on science to the industry partners and business audience

Talking about your scientific hypothesis and results with the company and industrial partners is exciting – it might bring you closer to developing your science into a real-life product or business concept. But be aware of your ideas’ and results’ potential: don’t let them be snatched up by clever businessmen and make sure you communicate your Unique Selling Point (USP)! 

The second half of the session will include interactive pitch training. By the end of the session, you might find the balance between the scientific, business, and marketing details of your own pitch.

Extra module: Interviews on research topics for the general public (limited number of participants: max.10 PhDs!)

  • Planned dates: January 2023
  • Speaker/trainer: Giovanna Pacini, Research Grant in Science Communication, University of Florence
  • Focus on media training 

This science communication laboratory is a hands-on activity for the realisation of a 3-minutes interview to illustrate the research topics of the participants. It consists of two stages:

  • A brief presentation of storytelling techniques, providing scientific storytelling podcast case studies. 
  • A practical session, where the participants will try themselves to do a 3-minutes interview on their research topics and experiences. This phase is an opportunity for the participants to share experiences and cooperatively learn storytelling strategies, by actively listening to colleagues giving and receiving feedback. 

The main goal of the activity is to provide the tools for the realisation of true, personal stories about science, that the participants can use in their daily research life: networking, conference presentation, press/journal release, dissemination, personal blog, and many others.

Application

The workshop is open free of charge to regular PhD candidates of all EUniWell universities.

APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED

In the interest of an optimal learning experience, the organisers reserve the right to adjust the composition of groups to include representatives of the different universities as much as possible – so first come, first served will not always be possible.

Please note that 4-6 applications (for the 2 modules) are planned to be accepted from each EUniWell partner university.

As the applications from the Universities of Cologne, Florence and Murcia as well as Linnaeus University have already reached the maximum number, we ask PhD candidates from these universities to apply only for the next workshops to be announced later.

Thank you for your understanding.

Application deadline: 27 October 2022

Contact: Eszter Turopoli

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