Invitation to Participate: Testing of Science Communication Modules
Interested in developing and refining your science communication skills?
With funding from NSERC, we have developed training modules to provide students, post-doctoral fellows, research staff and industry partners with an opportunity to develop and refine their science communication skills. The modules provide training to effectively mobilize science to the public using 3 formats: a podcast, a visual graphical abstract for dissemination on social media or for a journal article and an article for a blog or lay magazine. We have created virtual modules for each of the 3 formats, which include clear guidance and specific instructions regarding ‘how to’ develop the respective science communication strategy.
Before finalizing the content of the modules and releasing them widely, we will be ‘testing’ the modules. This will allow us to incorporate feedback from participants as well as from members of a lay audience who will review the podcasts, visual graphical abstracts and the lay article produced in the participation stage. This feedback is vital and will be used to fine-tune the content and delivery of the asynchronous and synchronous components of the modules.
As a tester, you are required to complete all 3 modules (one on podcasts, one on visual graphical abstracts and one on writing a lay article/blog) and their associated worksheet, as well as a rough draft of the science communication strategy you’ve devised based on your own area of research. In sum, in addition to completing the modules and worksheets, you will be required to submit a rough graphical abstract, an outline for a podcast idea and a draft lay article/blog.
The majority of the testing will be done asynchronously over a 6-week period (an estimated 15-24 hours of time – 5-8 hours per module) with 2 ‘live’ virtual sessions of 1.5 hours each – and your final completed worksheets are due November 4th. The ‘live’ virtual sessions will be on September 26th, 2022 from 11 am – 12:30 pm and on October 24th, 2022 from 11 am – 12:30 pm. The first live session will provide an introduction and overview to the modules along with instructions on the testing process, while the second live session will provide a time to review your process with the organizers and to receive feedback. Attendance is highly encouraged, but the live sessions will be recorded for participants who are unable to attend. For your time, we will provide you with a $50 honorarium in the form of a gift card of your choosing, along with a certificate of participation in the testing process.
(Note: Spots in the test phase are limited, so while we cannot guarantee that all applicants can participate in this testing phase, the modules will be available to all in early 2023.).
We will be reviewing submissions of interest for this testing phase over the coming days and will reach out to everyone who submitted a form once the list of participants has been finalized.
To apply to this opportunity, please complete the following form:
