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Science Communication

Scientists from all areas are challenged to simplify their message and interact with diverse audiences but ensuring that the message is conveyed and understood effectively, without ever losing sight of rigor, is not always easy. This course aims to help students develop their communication skills in different contexts. This course is intended for PhD students at NOVA University and PhD holders working at NOVA (Professors, researchers,…), students from partner universities and external students.

Registrations

11 de July, 2024

Programme Details

Rational

In an increasingly complex world, communicating science to non-specialists is essential. Scientists from all areas are challenged to simplify their message and interact with a wide range of audiences, but it’s not always easy to ensure an effective transmission of a scientific message without sacrificing accuracy. This is precisely the goal of the Science Communication Course. Like other transversal skills, communication skills requires practice: the course aims to provide tools for an educated practice, which results in better communication with lay audiences. Paradoxically, practicing science communication to non-specialists helps also to improve communication to peers: we learn how important it is to clearly define the message and how to put ourselves in the audience’s shoes, two basic rules of any communication.

In two days, we will work on how to communicate a research project in three distinct situations: speaking before an audience, dealing with an interview and writing a news article. The starting point is a typical scientific abstract of the results obtained so far on the thesis project.

Syllabus

This practical module envisages communication as a whole process, training students in the different topics:

  1. How to read a scientific paper
  2. Writing different sections of a scientific paper
  3. Preparing a poster for a scientific meeting
  4. Making slides – Presenting their work –posture, voice, content
  5. Talking to lay public – Interacting with the media

Learning outcomes

At the end of the module, students should be able to:

  1. Identify the specifities of academic scientific writing and organize their ideas and results in that format
  2. Make the most out of a poster presentation and oral communication
  3. Understand how scientific issues can be communicated to non-specialist audiences

References

  • Alley, Michael (1996). The craft of scientific writing. Springer
  • Beveridge, William I.B. (2004). The Art of Scientific Investigation. Blackburn Press
  • Murphy, Raymond (2005) English Grammar in Use. Cambridge University Press

Registrations + Fees

Nova PhD students – Free of charge, enrolment via the platform here https://www.unl.pt/inscricoes
PhD students from other institutions: Fee 350€. More information and enrolment via email nova.doctoral.school@unl.pt

Course Duration

1ECTS |2 days | 28h| Teaching hours: 16h Hours | Non-teaching hours/ autonomous work: 12h

Schedule

9AM to 6PM

Language

English or Portuguese

Teaching Regime

In Person

Faculty

Professor Doctor Ana Sanchez (ITQB NOVA)
Professor Doctor Joana Lobo Antunes (NOVA FCSH)
Professor Doctor Romeu Costa
Professor Doctor Vasco Trigo

The course was very useful for understanding important aspects that allow scientists to communicate better with any audience.

In addition, the course was didactic, which makes it easier to understand the themes and the interest it arouses in the students. At times, it forced the students out of their comfort zone, which is crucial for developing their skills as communicators.
NOVA’s PhD Candidate on the Science Communication course