Science communication training for UNEP
Since 2022, Brendon Bosworth and Dr Tali Hoffman, director of Honeyguide Science Communication, have been running a science communication training programme for The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
The programme focuses on improving the impact of UNEP’s publications. It supports UNEP’s aim of increasing the uptake of science for transformative action in line with its Medium-Term Strategy.
Brendon and Tali designed and ran a pilot programme in 2022 and 2023. Based on the success of the pilot and the participants’ enthusiasm for science communication, they upscaled the programme for full implementation in 2024.
The first programme for 2024 ran from 6 May to 14 June with an intake of 60 participants.
Through a combination of self-paced online learning, assignments, and bi-weekly facilitated sessions, participants learned about three core elements for impactful publications:
Communication strategy
Writing and editing
Data storytelling and visualisation
Like with previous trainings, participants left feeling more confident about their science communication skills.
Testimonials
“The course helped me think more about how to communicate science and the work I do. I’ve already started using some tools, and the results give me confidence.”
“Now, when I read any article, paper, or report, my first instinct will be: [who] is the target audience for this? The same goes for when I am writing one. ”
Work done
2024
Updated lesson content and design.
Ran training for the first cohort of the year with 60 participants.
2023
Ran second iteration of pilot science communication training programme with two cohorts of 60 people each.
Developed recommendations for rolling out a sustainable, long-term version of the training programme.
2022
Performed literature review, organisation-wide survey, and interviews with key staff members to understand UNEP’s science communication needs.
Developed pilot science communication programme focused on improving the quality and impact of UNEP publications.
Ran pilot science communication training programme with 20 UNEP staff members.
Developed recommendations for rolling out and upscaling this programme to larger groups.
Ran a science communication training workshop for roughly 100 people with UNEP’s Communication Division as part of UNEP’s Communication Academy.
