What We Do

Delivering workshops

We train researchers and managers in communication skills: media, presentations, writing, social media, photography, engagement, and strategy.

Since 1992, we have developed, piloted and run hundreds of communication skills workshops for researchers across the world.

Online adaptable

With COVID-19, we have adapted to run all our workshops online using Zoom.

These are generally run in shorter sessions over 2-3 days with a maximum of 8 participants.

WORKSHOPS

Available Workshops

The following standard workshops are available, but more often than not we design the workshop to suit the specific needs of our clients and workshop participants.

Running a 2-day workshop will give your participants more time to develop their skills.

Visualising your science with smart devices

1 or 2 day workshop

  • Use your smart devices to take better video footage and still images
  • Know and practice how to edit video and photographs taken with your smart devices
  • Consider how to share and promote your videos and photographs online

Writing for the Reader

1, 2 or 3 day workshop

  • distinguish good writing from bad writing
  • understand what plain language is and isn’t
  • think about and understand your readers
  • write clearly and concisely with style
  • structure your content to suit the reader
  • summarise for non-technical readers
  • write for decision-makers, policymakers, journal editors, journalists and other specific groups

Profiling science with social media

1 or 2 day workshop

  • Develop a communication strategy
  • create an online profile
  • Blogging to present research materials and outcomes
  • Using Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, SlideShare as a professional
  • Using social media tools to engage different audiences

Presenting science

1 or 2 day workshop

  • present with confidence
  • structure your talk in a logical way
  • think about and understand your audiences
  • present with style
  • handle the unexpected question
  • use visual aids to add impact

Talking science with the media

1 or 2 day workshop

  • Know what to expect when the media does a story
  • Practise your interview techniques with working journalists
  • Get your message out as accurately as possible

Communicating science

1 or 2 day workshop

Improve your skills in:

  • Presenting
  • Writing
  • Dealing with the media
  • Using social media
  • Using smart devices to take images

Planning science communication

1 or 2 day workshop

  • understand the principles of effective communication
  • learn how to plan communication
  • develop and practice key communication skills
  • develop a practical communication strategy that you can easily put into action

WORKSHOPS

What you get

Z

Individual attention

Z

Plenty of practice

Z

Lots of individual feedback

Z

Working journalists or industry panels

for you to practise being in the ‘hot seat’ (where applicable)

Z

Published booklets

for the Presenting science, Talking science with the media, Writing for the reader, Planning your communication and Visualising your science workshops; comprehensive notes for other workshops

Z

Individual video/audio recordings to take home

(where applicable)

Z

A post-workshop evaluation report for the client

your needs

Tailoring a workshop to your needs

We can combine or restructure our workshops to meet the needs of your group.

Who runs the workshops?

We have been running communication skills workshops across Australia since 1992, with consistently positive feedback.

All our workshop presenters work in close daily contact with scientists, researchers and journalists.

Online workshop options

With COVID-19, we have adapted to run all our workshops online using Zoom.

These are generally run in shorter sessions over 2-3 days with a maximum of 8 participants.

Every workshop is evaluated

At the end of each workshop, we provide participants with an evaluation sheet to complete. We compile the scores that the participants rate various aspects of the workshop. We provide these to our clients, along with unedited participant comments about highlights and suggestions for improvement.

We always receive positive feedback, averaging a rating of 6.4 out of a possible 7 for participant satisfaction.

TESTIMONIALS

Workshop examples

We ran a one-day media skills workshop (March 2020) for ecologists, chemists and engineers at the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS). Participants gave the workshop an overall score of 6.0 out of 7, and typical comments about workshop highlights were:

 

“The dynamism of the training throughout the day and invited journalists.”

“Good balance between content and feedback; relaxed atmosphere.”

Over two days we ran tailored, fully online writing skills and visualising science workshops for scientists from the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (November 2020). Overall, they rated the workshops as 6.5 out of 7, and made the following typical comments about workshop highlights:

 

“Practical exercises, interactive, well presented and tailored to the needs of the group.”

“Excellent discussions within the group. Great involvement. Very thought provoking.”

We ran a four-day communication outreach workshop series on presenting science for the Postdoctoral Fellowships Program at Georg-August University Göttingen on behalf of the Volkswagen Foundation (November 2019). Overall, they rated the workshops as 6.67 out of 7, and made the following typical comments about workshop highlights:

 

“Well planned and timed activities. Plenty of two-way communication.”

“The training was very useful and practical and the chemistry of presenters was perfect.”

We run the Fresh Science competition in Queensland which delivers media-savvy early-career researchers. For the last 4 years, we have secured sponsorship from the Queensland  Government and three Queensland universities to run this project, which includes media skills training for the 10 finalists and a chance to present at a popular evening event for the public.

 

“Workshops like this should be made compulsory for all scientists!”

“Working with the consultants was great. It really has boosted my confidence to connect with journalists. I have a better feel for what they are looking for.”

We worked closely with the Queensland Office of the Chief Scientist from 2015-2019 to tailor workshops to meet the needs of Queensland’s researchers. Workshops include Leveraging Social Media, Blogging for Beginners, and How To Tell Your Science in a Video.

 

“Engaging and interactive presentation style, good tips and discussion.”

“Going through apps and tips to working social media platforms in a more professional manner, and to get added reach.”

We worked from 2015-2019 with the World Science Festival to run specially tailored communication workshops for entrants of the Queensland Women in STEM prize. We provide training on communicating clear messages and tips on making short videos, giving participants the skills to confidently apply for the prize.

 

“Great opportunity to develop communication skills. Loved the opportunity to receive feedback.”

“This course helped me to structure my message, tips on good quality video and focus on what really matters to the public.”

We ran a 5-day Crawford Fund Master Class (May 2019) on communication planning for federal biosecurity communicators from the Pacific islands. They rated the workshop as 6.33 out of a possible 7, and made the following written comments about workshop highlights:

 

“Great opportunity to develop communication skills. Loved the opportunity to receive feedback.”

“This course helped me to structure my message, tips on good quality video and focus on what really matters to the public.”