Basics of Science Communication

How to Communicate Complex Research Topics with a Non-Expert Audience

Summary

Content

In day-to-day scientific work, you often have to convey the results of your work to target groups that are not so familiar with your research topic. These can be third-party funders, conference audiences or collaborators. Perhaps you are also involved in outreach activities at your MPI? Or you are working on a grant application for an EU project, where you have to present a communication strategy for your research project. Dealing with these different communicative situations is a considerable challenge for many researchers. In this seminar, you will be given a toolbox that you can use to prepare for any type of communication with a non-expert audience. Each seminar module contains hands on individual or group exercises. At the end of the seminar your will have developed your own communication strategy for your research topic. A detailed handout enables you to recall the seminar content some time later when other communicative situations might come up and a different strategy is needed.

In terms of content, the seminar is based on the “W and How-questions” customary in journalist training, which, however, are somewhat different for researchers:

W1 – Set communication goals: Why am I communicating?
W2 – Define target groups: Who do I want to address?
W3 – Self-presentation: Who do I want to be for my target audience?
W4 – Topic & Message: What am I communicating?
W5 – Choosing formats: Where do I communicate?
W6 – Use media correctly: Which media do I want to use?
W7 – Style: How do I communicate?

This course is open to IMPRS and MPI-P PhD students and postdocs.

Please register until November 11th via the Planck Academy. If you have any questions, please contact annalena_huber@psych.mpg.de.

15 spots available.