IMPRS workshop 'Basics of Science Communication'

Basics of Science Communication - How to Communicate Complex Research Topics with a Non-Expert Audience

1.  Key information

October 8-9, 2024
Place: B0.002
Instructor: Dipl. Biol. Kristin Raabe

Kristin Raabe is an award-winning science journalist, with more than 20 years of experience in tv, radio and print journalism. She is a trained systemic coach, mediator and mindfulness instructor. From 2015 – 2021 she was a lecturer at the National Institute for Science Communication (NaWik) in Karlsruhe. Her seminar portfolio for NaWik included: media trainings, science communication seminars, video production workshops, presentation trainings as well as rhetoric and argumentation seminars (for women). Kristin has written and produced video tutorials on science ethics and science communication for the Global Young Academy and NaWik. She has studied Biology and Philosophy at the University of Cologne and the University of Bonn.

3.  Description

As a researcher you often have to convey the results of your work to target audiences that are not so familiar with your research topic. These can be third-party funders, conference audiences or collaborators from other fields. Perhaps you are also involved in outreach activities at your MPI, where you have to communicate with a lay audience? 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. The seminar is based on the “5 Ws and How-questions” customary in journalist training, which, however, are somewhat different for researchers:

Set communication goals: Why am I communicating?

Define target groups: Who do I want to address?

Topic & Message: What am I communicating?

Formats & Means: Where do I communicate?

Self-presentation: Who do I want to be for my target audience?

Style: How do I communicate?

4.  Registration

Registration opens on September 3^rd.