Benefits of science communication training
If you’re a scientist who has landed on this page, you’re likely wanting to know more about the benefits of science communication training.
Maybe you’ve got a media interview lined up, or are preparing a talk about your research for non-scientists. Maybe you’re thinking about how to get your research out into the world to make an impact beyond academia.
No matter the reason for exploring science communication training, you’ve come to the right place!. (I run a science communication training course with Dr Tali Hoffman and work with scientists to help them communicate about their research).
There are many things you can learn by doing a science communication training course. Here, I’ll discuss four key benefits.
Science communication training helps you think strategically about who you want to communicate to and why
One of the things I hear a lot when I ask scientists about who they want to communicate to is “everyone.” The ambition of sharing science far and wide is laudable. But for strategic communication it’s helpful to focus on specific target audiences and think about what, exactly, you want to communicate to them, and why.
Science communication training teaches you to think about your communication goals, the impact you want to have, and the best ways to approach your target audience(s).
Science communication training helps you think about the “story” of your work
We understand the world through stories. A good story helps people people connect with facts and figures in a way that a standard powerpoint presentation just can’t.
Scientists have powerful stories to tell -- about themselves and their work. Learning to articulate the “story” of your research, and why you’re invested in your field of expertise, can help you communicate in a compelling way.
Science communication training builds your confidence for media interviews
Sitting down in front of cameras and microphones for media interviews can be daunting. (As a former journalist I spent many years asking the questions. Despite that, I still get a bit nervous when I’m on the other side of the interview these days!)
Science communication training helps you build your confidence for media interviews. You can learn how to prepare your key talking points with an understanding of what journalists are looking for, and how to engage with journalists so that you get your research out into the world.
Science communication training helps you get creative
If you’re a scientist, chances are you’ve got experience preparing scientific posters and presentations for conferences and the like. But there are so many fun and creative ways to communicate about your science. Infographics, podcasts, animations, TikTok videos, and more.
Science communication training can introduce you to creative tools for communicating about your work.
Interested in science communication training? Find out more about our online course, Communicating Science for Impact.
Science provides solutions to some of the biggest challenges of our time. Climate change, pandemics, public health, and more. We need scientists who can effectively communicate about their work in order to make changes in policy, practice, and behaviour.
If you’re interested in learning to communicate about your science with non-specialists, check out the science communication course I run with Dr Tali Hoffman, director of Honeyguide Science Communication.
We cater for groups and individuals, providing a supportive environment to practice your skills. We cover communication strategy, storytelling, media engagement, and a bunch of creative tools for communicating with impact.
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Brendon Bosworth is a science communication trainer and the principal consultant at Human Element Communications. He runs the science communication course, Communicating Science for Impact with Dr Tali Hoffman.