Science Communication: Relevant and Clear - (2023-I)

Course description

Societal impact of research has become crucial. Funding agencies for scientific research often demand that the knowledge acquired has added value for society. As a result, scientists frequently encounter stakeholders, such as patients, farmers or entrepreneurs or are asked to present in front of an audience of interested citizens. In this course, you will explore the added value of your research for society. You will acquire the skills for successful communication with stakeholders or the public. 

Learning objectives

During this course, you will write a popular text about your research for a relevant audience. You will learn to think strategically about increasing the impact of your research. And you will learn how to present your research in front of a laymen’s audience and how to give and receive feedback.

Instructional method

Every session builds on the previous sessions. You will provide the topic for your popular text and presentation, and develop a text and presentation at home. You will improve your draft texts and presentations according to feedback of the trainer and your peers. Finally, you will give an online presentation to laymen.

Trainer

Frans van Dam, MSc, is an experienced science communicator and communication skills trainer. He was head of communications at an institute at the Radboud University Nijmegen and now teaches science communication at Utrecht University. He is a trainer of popular and academic writing and oral presenting. In addition, he manages the innovation of education at Utrecht University Teaching & Learning Lab. He co-edited the textbook ‘Science Communication, an introduction (WSP, 2020)’

Group Size                   

8 participants

Number of credits 

1.5 EC

Course schedule

Study load

In addition to the scheduled sessions, you should take into account an extra study load of approximately 26 hours in total. This study load generally consists of homework assignments in preparation for the next session.

Course certificate   

You will receive a course certificate after actively participating in all four course sessions and after you receive a pass for your popular text and presentation.

Cancellation and No-show policy

This course is free for GSLS PhD candidates. However: free of charge does not mean free of responsibility. Once you have signed up for a course, we expect you to attend. For every late cancellation or no-show we have had to disappoint others who would have liked to attend. This is our policy:

• You may cancel free of charge up to 4 weeks before the start of the course. After this date you can only cancel if you have a GSLS PhD candidate to replace you in the course. Send the name and contact information of your replacement to pcc@uu.nl, at least 2 working days before the start of the course;
• We expect that you actively attend the full course, but at least 80%. It is mandatory to attend the first session. If you are absent the first session you cannot follow the remaining of the course;
• Not meeting the above requirements means you will be charged a no-show fee (€ 495). We will send the invoice after the course has ended. We are unable to make any exceptions, unless you have a valid reason (i.e., illness or death in the family 1^st/2^nd degree or partner). Your supervisor has to send an e-mail to pcc@uu.nl indicating the reason.

Unfortunately we don’t offer this course for participants not part of the GSLS. Our courses tend to be fully booked by GSLS PhD candidates.

A whole-round course to initiate you to an effective science communication. I recommend it to anyone who wishes to bring his/her message across more directly and to-the-point

The practice presentations were very helpful. But the final presentation was the most fun. You get to interact with the layman audience and it gives kind of a first-hand teaching experience

The course allowed me to see my research from another perspective, a much simpler one