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 new FREE science communication workshop series’?! 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: how to use hands-on activities and practical resources to communicate your science; creating a public engagement activity, from developing a new idea, understanding your audience and building a story, through to evaluation; and science communication training for researchers who speak English as a foreign language.

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: Hands-on engagement and activities with the Glasgow Science Center

This workshop series is based upon the ‘Inspire & Challenge’ approach used by the Glasgow Science Center, Scotland, to communicate a diverse range of science subjects. Led by four experienced members of the Science Center team, participants will learn how to: employ modern theories of learning to hook people into their science; use practical tools and resources to bring their research to life; structure hands-on activities that inspire audiences of all ages and backgrounds; and choose language and approaches that are appropriate, making the engagements relevant and meaningful for the participants.

This workshop series will take place on the 13, 20, 27 September and 4 October, 09:00-12:00 CEST. The sessions will be divided as follows:

• Session 1: The importance of hands-on activities, introducing and exploring a range of hands-on approaches, their benefits and limitations
• Session 2: Glasgow Science Centre’s ‘Inspire & Challenge’ approach and online engagement, learning how to translate practical activities to the online environment and how to critically evaluate your work
• Session 3: Exploring ‘science capital’ and creating your own STEM activity and how to assess risk in science communication
• Session 4: Evaluating and building on your STEM engagement practice, where to go next!

If this workshop series appeals to your interests, apply by 4 September

Series 2: Public engagement with geosciences with Navigator Consulting

This workshop series is a follow up to the extremely successful public engagement training course run in 2022 by the team at Navigator, and this year they are focusing even more on public engagement challenges for earth, planetary and space scientists. In this course the three experienced public engagement and science communication experts will teach you how to: draw on the available evidence to develop your own public engagement activities; identify the objectives of your activities and the needs of your audiences; deploy appropriate engagement methods to deliver against those objectives; and develop and implement a project development and evaluation plan. The sessions will cover a range of topics from storytelling strategies to connecting with non-traditional audiences.

This workshop series will take place on the 8, 15, 22 November, 13:30-17:00 CET. The sessions will be divided as follows:

• Session 1: Why do public engagement, including the importance of thinking about the needs of all participants in an activity, reflecting on diversity and inclusion, and looking at the evidence in favour of public engagement
• Session 2: How to do public engagement, introducing some standard public engagement methods, thinking about their strengths and weaknesses, and reflecting on the role of stakeholders
• Session 3: Put it into practice! In small groups participants will develop an activity based upon their preferred audience and discuss it with the class

If this workshop series appeals to your interests, apply by 25 October

Series 3: Communication skills for non-native English speakers with Science without Borders

This workshop is meant to give participants who speak English as a second, or additional, language practical skills and strategies to help them become more confident and communicate more efficiently. Delivered by a team of three experienced international science communicators who had to overcome linguistic barriers themselves, the training aims to turn this disadvantage on its head and demonstrate how participants can communicate effectively to an international audience. This workshop series will help those who join to learn how to use their strengths in multiple languages to explain complex concepts in an engaging manner and how to use storytelling, speaking and writing techniques to explain their findings.

This workshop series will take place from the 4-7 December, 15:00-17:00 CET. The sessions will be divided as follows:

• Session 1: Tackling the fear of public communication, this session will surface and normalise the emotions surrounding science communication in a foreign language, addressing concerns and evaluating current skills
• Session 2: Science storytelling and structure, this session will examine traditional English storytelling structures, exploring the use of anecdotes and giving advice on the delivery of spoken communication
• Session 3: Public speaking and events, this session addresses different formats and spaces that science communication can happen in and will explore using body language and performance, as well as inclusive language practices
• Session 4: Facing the media and wrap-up, this session will look at science communication in a formal media environment and will reflect on the lessons learned from the course to use the skills of a non-native English speaker as a strength

If this workshop series appeals to your interests, apply by 20 November

Places for these FREE workshops are limited to 30 people, so if you wish to participate please complete this application form by the appropriate closing date (listed above and on the form). 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