After a successful first meeting, our next meeting will be on Tuesday 6 May, from 12:30 – 13:30 hours. We invite researchers in all stages of their career to join the Science Communication Club. The meeting will take place in room Connect in the DesignLab. Two new examples of science communication practice will be presented. In the discussion we will deepen insights from science communication theory. You’re more than welcome. Registration beforehand is not necessary. PhD students can earn a certificate of 0.5 EC by attending 5 meetings and presenting their own example.
Nowadays as researchers we are increasingly expected to communicate our science to a wider audience, to engage in dialogue with citizens and other actors, or pitch our research for funding to a non-specialist audience. Science communication is an integral part of our responsibility to society. As with any skill, practice makes perfect—and progress is faster when we share our experiences. This is what we do at the Science Communication Club.
Media experiences and facilitating a science-art festival
In the first meeting about 25 people attended and we had a lively and insightful discussion about science communication efforts and their impacts. Heather Handley shared her experiences with communicating science through the media. As a volcanologist she has been asked for many media performances (for example, TV documentaries and news, radio, podcast, online, media releases). And, as she explained, although one-way communication, most people get their information about news from such sources and want to be informed. She discussed details of a few examples and the impact it can have and gave her top tips and tricks.
Anne Dijkstra brought in the example of organising a science-art festival as part of the activities for the Science Café Deventer. In such a festival format the audience can pick out topics of interest and connect to the latest developments in science while also enjoying music, a pub quiz and art performances. Interviews and questions allow for more in-depth discussions and more direct engagement with researchers. For organisers it is rewarding to facilitate such an evening, while participants can enjoy encounters with scientists and artists.
Slides are available in the Science Communication Club Teams environment. If you want to join, please email a.m.dijkstra@utwente.nl and you can be added.
Note already the other dates in 2025:
- Wednesday 2 July 12:30 – 13:30, Langezijds room LA 2310
- Thursday 2 October 12:30 – 13:30, venue will follow
- Thursday 11 December 12:30 – 13:30, venue will follow
