Presenting your Research Effectively and Attractively (PREA)

THE IDEA. Boost creativity and improve presentation skills by learning techniques in improvisation and science communication.

“Most scientists lack the business know-how and literacy to effectively communicate with funders. I’d very much like to see that every single researcher is able to deliver an “elevator pitch” on how their research impacts society.”

Michael J. Bojdys

Registration

via Eventbrite

Time

13:00 to 18:00 on Thursday, Jan 23, 2020.

Venue

Erwin-Schrödinger-Zentrum (room 0’101), Rudower Chaussee 26, 12489 Berlin.

The Problem. In an increasingly information connected world, an understanding of scientific facts and engagement with the scientific community is more and more necessary. The scientist’s ability to effectively communicate their work and engage with the public is equally imperative. Professional academics and students often struggle to see the “big picture” and the impact of their work on society, and lack the tools to effectively communicate their work to policy makers, funders and the general public.

The Solution. The “Presenting Your Research Effectively and Attractively” Workshop is a response to this. This workshop will provide professional academics and students with an in-depth science communication training and give them opportunity to create content and material for public engagement. The objectives are to (a) give scientists practical tools and methodologies for future science communication activities, (b) empower them in future exchanges with non-scientists, and (c) build content as a community and bridge the divide between science and the public.

Who is this workshop for? The workshop is open to any scientist or student of the Berlin University Alliance interested in improving their science-communication and improvisation skills. The workshop provides participants with tools and insights into how to effectively communicate scientific results, and what kind of outlets (articles, videos, podcasts) are available to them to reach the desired target audience.

The Instructors.

Julia Offe obtained her doctorate in biology. Since 2011, she organises Germany’s top science communication event, the “Science Slam”.
Roland Bolz is a PhD student in philosophy at the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and a stand-up comedian who performs regularly on the Berlin circuit.
Cora Knoblauch is a radio journalist for “radioeins rbb” and “Deutschlandfunk Kultur”. She is also the voice for the science podcast of the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin “Unendliche Weiten, faszinierende Welten”.

The Expected Impact. “Presenting your Research Effectively and Attractively” has the following tangible goals. (1) It will communicate the narrative elements of a good story and the tools of constructive, creative brainstorming. This will enable participants to perform more effectively in goal-oriented, academic activities (scientific presentations, funders pitches, mid-term presentations). Further, it will enable participants to engage more effectively in open-ended academic discussions (constructive brainstorming, project development). (2) The workshop will inform about non-academic media outlets for scientific results. Scientists routinely underappreciate popular media (TV, YouTube, Radio, Newspapers) as suitable outlets for their scientific results. Our workshop can effectively challenge this, and expand the impact that scientific research has in the public eye. (3) The workshop will inform young scientists and students about job opportunities for scientists in public-outreach and media. Not all of us want to be or can become professional academics. The workshop will embolden participants to apply their scientific background in non-classical job avenues such as academic and popular-science publishing, and scientific TV and radio programs.

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