University of Saskatchewan launches science communication microcredential
Image credit: Photo by Karolina Grabowska from Pexels.
Dr. Tali Hoffman and Brendon Bosworth are science communicators on a mission to help scientists share their research for impact beyond academia.
The pair have partnered with the University of Saskatchewan, in Canada, to teach a short course in science communication, running from 21 March to 22 April. The course, Foundations in Science Communication, is the first microcredential offered by the university as part of a 2022 pilot programme. Microcredentials focus on skills and competencies to support professional development.
“Many people pursue careers in science because they want to have a positive impact on the world. To make that impact often requires communicating about science to non-specialists. Unfortunately, scientists are seldom trained on how to do that effectively,” says Hoffman. “We’re excited to partner with the University of Saskatchewan to promote and develop these communication skills in the scientific community.”
Microcredentials offered by the University of Saskatchewan focus on skills directly relevant to what employers and community partners need.
“This microcredential will be an important tool for professionals across multiple sectors to maintain and upgrade their employment skills,” says Maureen Reed, a professor at the University of Saskatchewan School of Environment and Sustainability (SENS).
Bosworth, a former journalist, and Hoffman, who has a PhD in Zoology, met in 2018 while working as communications officers on an international climate change adaptation project, based at the University of Cape Town’s African Climate and Development Initiative (ACDI).
While working with climate change researchers from six African countries and India, they realised that many scientists don’t receive communication training as part of their formal studies. This makes it challenging for them to communicate about their work beyond academia. The idea for a communication course that teaches scientists about communication strategies and tools, storytelling, and best practises for engaging with the media was born.
“As the climate crisis continues to deepen, and other threats to the sustainability of life on this planet worsen, we need scientists who can speak about their work in a way that is accessible for the public, government, and media,” says Bosworth. “Films like Oscar-nominated Don’t Look Up have put that into perspective in a big way.”
In 2020, Bosworth and Hoffman launched the first iteration of their course (a hybrid of online learning and facilitated sessions over Zoom) in the throes of the Covid pandemic, running it with early career researchers at the ACDI.
They have since gone on to train over 50 researchers in science communication. Previous course participants include researchers from the ACDI, the South African Research Chair: Mineral Law in Africa (MLiA), the ARUA Centre of Excellence in Climate and Development, and the University of Saskatchewan.
“The heads of the institutes we’ve worked with are forward-thinking academics who see the immense value of equipping their students with science communication training,” notes Bosworth. “The most rewarding part for me is seeing students putting what they’ve learned in our course into practice outside of the classroom, adding to the public discussion on issues that will shape our collective future.”
Former students have featured in publications like Daily Maverick. One was recently interviewed for a BBC News article about the potential of green hydrogen — a renewable energy source — in Namibia.
“Effective science communication contributes to positive changes in policy, practice, and behaviour,” says Hoffman. “Researchers who complete this course come out the other side better able to drive that change, whatever their area of expertise.”
Learn more about the course, Foundations in Science Communication, via the University of Saskatchewan’s website.