Workshop: Science Communication Fundamentals
About the workshop
The Biology Graduate Students’ Association of Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador requested a bespoke introductory science communication workshop for researchers wanting to strengthen their communication skills across public, policy, and media audiences.
The challenge
Graduate researchers regularly communicate complex work to mixed audiences, such as community groups, policy and decision-makers, and journalists without formal training. The association needed a practical, beginner-friendly workshop that helped participants understand different audiences and practice core communication skills.
What we delivered
A half-day interactive workshop for ~30 participants, structured around three pillars:
Public engagement: making science accessible, relatable, and engaging
Science for policymakers: how decision-makers use evidence and what they need from researchers
Working with the media: how journalists operate and how to prepare for interviews
Each section combined short talks from local experts, Q&A sessions, and hands-on communication challenges.
We also coordinated:
Guest speakers from public engagement, policy, and media sectors
Custom activities and communication exercises
Pre-workshop materials and event logistics
Social media support before, during, and after the event
Outcomes
The workshop gave early-career researchers practical tools for engaging diverse audiences and increased their confidence in communicating science beyond academic settings.
Feedback highlighted the value of hearing directly from practitioners in each field and the hands-on practice opportunities.
