Communications Training for Scientists
On this page, you'll find a list of programs that offer communications workshops and classes for scientists.
Metcalf Institute, the University of Rhode Island, Scientist Training Programs
Link: Metcalf Institute
About: “Metcalf Institute training for researchers, academics and other science communicators builds skills, strategies, and confidence in sharing science with non-expert audiences. Metcalf collaborates with universities, agencies, NGOs, businesses and community groups to develop customized conference panels, seminars, and workshops that help participants meet broader impacts goals.”
Programs:
Science Communication and Career Development Program
Scicomm Exchange
Customized Science Communication Workshops
Training Programs at Conferences
The Science Communication Workshops at NYU
Link: NYU
About: “The Carter Institute in 2009 began offering workshops taught by nationally prominent science writers to Ph.D. students and post-doctoral fellows in the sciences at NYU. In 2013, we expanded to include the medical school, and in the fall of 2016, we expanded again to reach faculty in the sciences and medicine. In 2018, we expanded one more time, this time by adding spoken-word workshops for faculty who want to improve their skills for TED-type talks and other oral presentations to mass audiences.”
Logistics: Each workshop consists of four weekly sessions of three hours each. There are typically ten students per workshop. There is no charge to students, and no university credit is given. In the 2020-21 academic year, NYU will offer 12 four-week workshops: eight introductory, two advanced, and two for faculty (one introductory and one advanced).
Howard Hughes Medical Institute Education for Scientists
Link: Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Creator: Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Summary: Undergraduate and graduate programs for scientists to become communicators; list of resources, education workshops,
About: “For more than 60 years, HHMI has stood for excellence in science. Today, our scientists and educators are working to make discoveries and build our future in meaningful ways. In 2017, HHMI committed to four guiding priorities, which we call: Discovery Science; Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Scientific Workforce; Public Engagement; and Healthy Academic Ecosystem. We’re using these priorities to guide decisions about our resources and to experiment with new approaches, sharing what we learn along the way.
Massive Science
Link: Massive Science
About: “Massive is dedicated to helping scientists share stories about their work and lives in pursuit of a more informed, rational, and curious society.” “The Massive Scientist Consortium represents over 50 countries, over 150 fields, and over 700 institutions. And it’s still growing: in the U.S. alone there are over 775,000 postgraduate STEM researchers.”
Compass Science Communication
Link: Compass Science Communication
About: “Since 1999, COMPASS has supported over 8,000 scientists to communicate about their work and engage beyond lab and field. We’ve connected them with journalists, policymakers, and community leaders across the United States, when and where it matters, ensuring science has a seat at the table.”
University of Florida, College of Journalism & Communications, Science/Health Communications
Link: University of Florida
About: “This program is designed to teach scientists and health specialists to communicate effectively via media, and to teach mass media specialists the background science to translate the language of science and health into meaningful and understandable stories for their audiences. These goals are achieved through theoretical writing and applied courses.”
Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science, at Stony Brook University
Link: Alan Alda Center, Graduate certificate in scicomm
About: “The Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science empowers scientists and health professionals to communicate complex topics in clear, vivid, and engaging ways; leading to improved understanding by the public, media, patients, elected officials, and others outside of their own discipline.”
SciComm at Cornell
Links: SciComm at Cornell, Undergraduate minor & graduate classes, Workshops
Summary: Cornell offers an undergraduate minor in SciComm and workshops for scientists and scientists-in-training on communicating their work.
University of Chicago, Marine Biological Laboratory
Link: A Hands-On Workshop for Scientists
About: “Scientists, postdoctoral fellows, graduate students and research associates in the sciences are invited to a free, online, personalized writing workshop. “Writing About Science for the Public” is designed for scientists who wish to communicate their work more clearly and effectively to the public, the media, and to scientists outside their own field. Participants will examine concepts of science communication, get intense and practical training in science-writing strategies, and have a chance to engage in the craft. “Writing About Science for the Public” is limited to 12 participants. Registration is on a first-come, first-serve basis with priority given to scientists from the Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole.
Harvard University, ComSciCon
Link: ComSciCon
About: “Communicating Science is a workshop series organized by graduate students, for graduate students, focused on science communication skills.”
The Emerson Collective Fellowship
Link: The Emerson Collective Fellowship
About: “Often structured as one year of direct support, the Emerson Collective Fellowship is designed to help a remarkable individual advance a new project. With minimal ongoing programming, the fellowship gives individuals the autonomy to advance their current work, pursue exciting new chapters with unknown destinations, and make lasting breakthroughs. Emerson also works directly with Fellows to help their work reach greater exposure and impact.”
