Are you a researcher in Earth, Planetary or Space sciences who wants to share your work with wider non-academic audiences? Why not apply to join one of the EGU Outreach Committee’s FREE science communication workshop series’ for 2024?! Building on the success of last year’s training, these online science communication training workshops can help you to develop the specific skills for interacting directly with a range of public audiences, and are led by tutors who work as public engagement, science communication and outreach specialists.

In order to meet the diverse needs of researchers who want to engage in science communication, the EGU Outreach Committee are sponsoring three workshop series’ covering visual storytelling for complex science topics, and communicating science with policymakers.

These three courses cover very different aspects of science communication, so read our condensed descriptions below before you make your selection. If you want more information please email the EGU Outreach Committee

Series 1: Visual Storytelling for Complex Science with Background Stories

Creativity can help connect seemingly abstract data to people’s emotions. By putting information into a visual context; storytelling, infographics, and data visualization can inform audiences and motivate participation. Creative and visual techniques can bring complex content psychologically closer to audiences – by connecting with them on an emotional level. This three-part workshop is an introduction to applying visual narrative to data and information, including basic principles of information design, the psychology of visuals, and methods to visually present data and information in a way that is relevant to non-expert audiences. We’ll review multiple examples of visuals and creative approaches to scientific and climate-related communication: all of which are collaborative efforts between agencies, non-profits, institutions or businesses, and creatives. Together, we’ll explore examples of visual best practices­—and how you can develop visual communications about your research—to help people see themselves within your data and motivate change.

This workshop series will take place on Tuesdays 1, 8, and 15 October, 15:00-17:00 CEST. The sessions will be divided as follows:

• Session 1: Visual storytelling as communication (introduction, audience, outlining your content)
• Session 2: Visualizing complex processes (narrative structures, framing your content)
• Session 3: Visualizing data (sketching your data)

Places for this FREE workshop are limited to 100 people, so if this workshop series appeals to your interests, apply by 16 September

Series 2: Novel and inclusive approaches to policy engagement with Scientia Scripta

Unlock the potential of your research with this transformative workshop designed to bridge the gap between geoscience and impactful policymaking. Led by two Scientia Scripta team members – experts in science communication and engagement – you’ll learn to confidently present your research as vital evidence for policy, ensuring your work makes a meaningful impact. Discover why geoscientists need to be policy-savvy, get ahead of the game with a fresh perspective on inclusive and creative policy development, and gain practical skills to monitor the policy landscape, engage at the right moments, and build trusted relationships. Join us and become a catalyst for change in policy development!

This workshop series will take place on the 29 October, 5 and 12 November, 11:00-13:30 CET. The sessions will be divided as follows:

• Session 1: Introduction to policy engagement: get to grips with the needs of policymakers, the traditional methods used to gather evidence to inform policy, and why scientists should get involved.
• Session 2: Experimental approaches to policy development: learning about alternative and more inclusive approaches to policymaking, and their respective effectiveness at different stages in policy development.
• Session 3: Taking your first steps in policy engagement: How to ‘get out there’ with confidence in sharing your research!

Places for this FREE workshop are limited to 30 people so if this workshop series appeals to your interests, apply by 15 October

Series 3: Going back to school with the Teacher Scientist Network

Equip yourselves with the skills and confidence needed to inspire young people about the world of geoscience, enhance your abilities in communication and outreach, and learn about the opportunities available for you to put theory into practice and ‘dip your toe’ in science-school engagement. This three-part, interactive workshop will be delivered by the co-ordinator of the Teacher: Scientist Network in the UK, which has been creating long-term collaborative partnerships between teachers and scientists since 1994. Your tutor will build off their own experience as a scientist partnered with teachers and provide insight into how he approached “going back to school” when he was an early career scientist. The workshop will serve as an introduction to working with school students, develop your communication skills for school-level audiences and how to use your training to engage in education outreach activities.

This workshop series will take place on the 26 November, 3 and 10 December, 15:00-17:00 CET. All sessions will be conducted in English. The sessions will be divided as follows:

• Session 1: Getting to know your audience (young people aren’t that scary, honest!!) and an Introduction to Communication Skills.
• Session 2: Developing your ideas, translating your research. Advice for working in schools from those who have. Evaluation for you and for us.
• Session 3: The power of informal learning and open schooling. Opportunities for working in and with schools inc. Teacher: Scientist pairing, other EGU-related opportunities, and ways to engage locally.

Places for this FREE workshop are limited to 30 people, so if this workshop series appeals to your interests, apply by 12 November

Only EGU Members can apply to participate in these workshops and attendees will be shortlisted by the EGU Outreach Committee selected by their answers to the question, ‘Why do you want to attend this workshop?’ and to ensure a diverse group of participants.

For any additional questions, please contact the EGU Outreach committee

• EGU Outreach Committee
• EGU outreach activities