Seminars in English

We offer the Following seminars in English language. If you need more information about the National Institute for Science Communication (NaWik) click here.

Please Contact us to book a seminar.

Basics of science communication

Researchers play a central role in communicating science to the public, alongside professional communicators and journalists. Scientists write articles and opinion pieces for news media, give interviews, are active on social media, give presentations at public events, and much more. To successfully reach broader audiences, it is important to focus on clear and comprehensible core messages.

This introductory seminar is designed to raise awareness of the importance to communicate science. Participants learn the basic principles of science communication. They hear about the interaction of academia and the news media. Using a simple framework, participants discover the core aspects of good science communication and identify the reasons why science communication is important.

• The main actors and changes in the science communication landscape
• The NaWik arrow as a framework for successful science communication
• Identifying stakeholders and segmenting target audiences
• Getting your message across clearly with your own core message
• The factors underlying trust in science – and in scientists

Communicating science online

How can scientists benefit from being present on social media and from communicating actively online? The NaWik-seminar “Communicating Science Online” offers a well-structured and comprehensive introduction to online media with a particular focus on how scientists can make most of Twitter, LinkedIn, ResearchGate and blogs.

Participants of this seminar will have identified and understood the factors underlying effective science communication. They will be able to decide which online tools and networks offer tangible benefits and they will be equipped and encouraged to actively participate in communicating science online. Possible topics of this two-day workshop include:

• Who communicates in the new media landscape?
• The digital profile and how to influence it
• Social networks and their benefit for scientists
• Digital tools for scholarly communication
• Science blogging for beginners
• A framework for successful science communication
• Dos and Don’ts when communicating online

Presentation skills

Scientists are more often required to present their work in various situations – at scientific conferences, in lab meetings, to collaborators, as well as at open days and other outreach events.

Participants of this two-day seminar learn the theoretical basics as well as applicable, practical knowledge of science communication. They practice specialized presentation competencies and experience the impact of successful presentations to different target groups.

With the help of video analysis, the participants identify their individual strengths and step by step optimize their skills of communication within and outside the academic environment. They also learn how to react to critical questions from the plenum. Possible topics of this seminar include:

• From senders and receivers – layers of communication
• Formulating your core message
• Creativity as key to success
• Lecture development methods
• Body language, composure, facial expression, gestures
• Responding to questions from the audience

Scientific writing

Publishing research results is an essential part of the scientific process. Published papers influence career opportunities for scientists and help in obtaining funding for research. Well-structured and well written manuscripts contribute directly to improved acceptance rates at journals and ultimately success in science.

The seminar „Publishing in scientific journals “ covers all aspects of writing, submitting, reviewing and publishing your scientific manuscript. Participants will be equipped with a framework to prepare manuscripts more efficiently and effectively. They will become familiar with writing techniques to improve their text. They will be prepared to interact with editors and deal with reviewers‘ comments and participants will have identified ways to increase the impact of their research. Possible topics of this two-day seminar with many writing exercises include:

• The planning stage: structure and focus
• Preparing the sections of a manuscript
• Tips for professional writing
• Title and abstract
• Publication strategy
• Increasing your impact

Visualising Science

Science is often invisible: It remains hidden between book covers, in complicated technical terms or cryptic tables. In our seminar we want to change that and teach you how to visualize and animate your research. The aim is to learn how to prepare scientific results and abstract research topics for a non-specialist audience.

The two-day seminar with practical exercises covers basic design principles and methods and focuses on applying them on the clear and engaging visualization of data and scientific information. Specific visualization techniques and tools are practiced to visualize the participants’ own research projects. In particular, the following topics are covered:

• The nomenclature of styles for scientific figures
• Basic design principles for visualisations
• Paper, presentation, poster: Different aims and design language
• Defining the essential aspects: Finding your own core message
• Achieving more: Planning and designing infographics

Media training

The right choice of words takes practice – especially in front of a microphone or camera. What does my counterpart understand and what needs to be explained better? The practical workshop conveys basic knowledge of the science communication, in particular for television and radio.

Practical exercises (Interviews, statements, discussions) are trained towards target group oriented and medium appropriate communication. With the help of video analysis, participants will learn about their individual strengths and weaknesses and optimize their communication style. Possible topics of this seminar include:

• Interview styles and interview situations
• Science in the media
• From senders to receivers – layers of communication
• Radio interview and radio statement
• The interview in front of the camera
• The television message

Interview seminar

Researchers often play an important role in public debates on science. They are sought-after experts and frequently give interviews. This seminar teaches the fundamentals of formulating intelligibly and includes hands-on sessions practising the art of argument for communicating in a targeted and medium-appropriate way.

Working together with professional journalists, the interview seminar will enable you to acquire insights into the interaction between science and the media, and experience how journalists think and work. You will learn how to get your message across to your target audience, clearly and intelligibly, by choosing the right words. Together with experienced lecturers you will use recordings to analyse your manner and rhetorical skills.

NaWik’s interview training lasts two days. The seminar covers:

• About communicators and audiences – levels of communication
• Target groups – reaching your audience
• The core message – the art of brevity
• Scientist meets journalist – knowing what’s required
• Interview formats – phone, live, audio, film
• Dealing with critical questions – never at a loss for an answer
• Classic rhetoric – persuasion by Pathos, Ethos and Logos

Video seminar

• fundamentals of communication
• basic rules of image composition and visual storytelling
• what I need: overview and selection of technical equipment
• practical exercises: filming video on a smartphone
• practical exercises: cutting and adding sound
• enhancing awareness of key criteria

Voice Training

Conducting research is one thing, talking about it is quite another. Whether you are presenting a paper at a specialist conference, talking to colleagues at meetings, lecturing in a lecture theatre or being interviewed on television – research has to be talked about, which means using your voice. A strong, modulated voice is the basis of convincing communication.

In the course of many practical sessions at NaWik’s voice and language training seminars you learn to find your own authentic voice and use it effortlessly. We introduce you to the theoretical foundations of using your voice and show how you can modulate and strengthen it.

Analysis of audio recordings will help you discover new colours in your voice.

NaWik’s voice seminars last one day. They cover:

• Your own timbre – an authentic voice
• Abdominal breathing versus thoracic breathing
• Discovering resonating chambers
• Articulating intelligibly
• Speaking without tiring – the seat of the voice
• Speaking loudly and effortlessly
• Voice stability – when you start getting nervous

We are happy to hold our seminar where you are, or you can choose to use our premises on the campus of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT).
Please Contact us to book a seminar.