Workshops for ANU Staff & Students

SHARING SCIENCE

• Want to add value to your science?
• Want to see it adopted more quickly?
• Having trouble explaining your research in simple terms?
• Anxious about public presentations?
• Would you like an official ANU award for your CV?

Today, more than ever before, scientists are required to communicate their research to industry, government, the media and the public.

The pressure comes from many sources including employers, funding bodies and policy makers, all of whom want society to obtain greater value from science.

The workshops are run over a period of two and half days and each can accommodate up to 20 participants. Their aim is to increase your awareness of issues in science communication for scientists and to provide you with strategies for successful personal oral and written communication.   The workshops are intensive and highly interactive and you will be expected to participate throughout the whole two and a half days.  Completing the workshop will qualify you for an ANU Graduate Short Course Award in Scientific Communication, a valuable addition to your CV.

THE PROGRAM

The workshop will address:  

• presenting science to the public and your peers
  
• improving your plain English writing skills.

The workshop will also bring you up to date on the fast developing discipline of science communication and the techniques of knowledge sharing.

What are the benefits of attending a workshop?
In return for giving up two and a half days of your precious research time you will get:

• a formal ANU Graduate Award in Science Communication
• improved skills in preparing and delivering seminars and conference papers
• skills in preparing presentations for a range of audiences
• greater knowledge of how to present your science to the public and the media
• improved writing skills
• wider knowledge of audio visual considerations
• information on the use and abuse of PowerPoint
• understanding of the art of the conference poster
• a peer group within your University College with whom you can interact in relation to written and spoken communication issues
• greater knowledge of what your peers are doing in your College
• the opportunity to approach CPAS subsequently (using CPAS as a resource) with problems and for advice. This service is provided free of charge to workshop graduates

The workshops are endorsed by the College of Science and the College of Engineering and Computer Science. They are seen as an important adjunct to a regular PhD. They are open to doctoral students (fee paid by the department) and post doctoral students and members of staff (by arrangement). All you need to do is register!

COMMENTS FROM PAST PARTICIPANTS

"I found out what my colleagues were up to."

"Very structured, very professional, very well organised!"

"I was surprised by how deceptively effective it was! I did not realise my marked improvements until the end of the second day."

"I really appreciated presenting my science to a general audience, together with the analysis and improvement of written articles."

"It was an intense pace to maintain but it was also very enjoyable."

"It was a lot more fun than I was expecting, but it was good."

"This workshop has empowered me. I now feel I have the confidence to explain my project to my family!"

"The feedback we got was great and encouraging. It didn't squash me, it made me want to improve."

"I don't know how you manage to do it, but I've never felt so relaxed with a bunch of strangers - and scientists at that!"

THE WORKSHOP FACILITATORS

The workshop facilitators are all experienced in communicating science in a variety of formats.

Speaking to a variety of audiences

Professor Mike Gore, Founder of Questacon, is an internationally renowned communicator of science.  Mike will guide you in the do's and don'ts  of science communication and there will be opportunities for personal feedback over the two and a half days. At the end, you will feel much more confident about speaking engagingly to any audience.

Writing for a variety of audiences

Danny Kingsley is a science communicator who is presently completing post-graduate work at CPAS. She will present techniques that will help you to write about your science in plain English so that your public will want to read and learn more. During the course of the workshop you will have several opportunities to practise and refine your writing skills.

Understanding your audience

Associate Professor Sue Stocklmayer, Director of CPAS, will address issues relating to understanding the public. She will discuss some of the theoretical aspects of communicating science and so increase your confidence in structuring and presenting your work.

WHERE?

The CPAS Science Communication Workshops are normally held at CPAS which is located in the ground floor of Building 38A, the Physics Link Building.  This is adjacent to The Research School of Chemistry and underneath the Physics Department at the northern end of the campus.

Click here to register for the next CPAS workshop!

Once you have registered we will contact you with further information and a detailed program.

Please note the following: Morning and afternoon teas are provided.  You will need to bring or buy your lunch.  The workshops are very intensive, so there will be homework!

For further information please contact CPAS at cpas@anu.edu.au

Tel: 02 6125 0498
Fax: 02 6125 8991

Once you have registered you will be contacted with further information and a detailed program.