WIAS course Societal Impact of your Research
Course schedule
Dates | Start time | End time | Coordinator | registrations app/max |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
12 & 19 March 2025 | 13:30 | 17:30 | WIAS | 13 / 15 | Apply |
Course description
How do I write an appealing news article? How do I get my research in the spotlights? How do I tell a broader audience than my own peer group about my work? And how do I deal with possible discussions that may arise from my research?
These, and other important questions about animal science and society will be addressed during the training course ‘Societal Impact of your research’. The course is meant for PhD candidates and postdocs who want to get tips and tricks for communicating their research to non-colleagues including journalists, companies, farmers, policymakers, politicians, NGOs or students.
The course consists of three half-day workshops, led by two experienced science journalists, Astrid Smit and Rob Buiter. In the workshops the journalists will be giving you theory, practical exercises and tools to trigger the audience you want to reach. What are the basic rules for attractive writing and presenting? What is jargon and how can I avoid using it? What are the do’s and don’ts?
You will get two assignments:
- Prepare a pitch of three minutes
- Write a news release about your research
General Information
Target Group | PhDs, postdocs and other researchers |
Group size | Maximum 15 participants |
Credit points | 1 ECTS |
Course duration | 2 afternoon sessions |
Self-study hours | About 2 days |
Trainers | Astrid Smit and Rob Buiter |
Venue | Wageningen Campus (building and Room to be announced) |
Programme
Workshop 1, Day 1
Before the workshop, the participants will be provided with information on a few basic techniques on how to effectively present their work in a pitch. During the workshop, the participants will present their research in a very short pitch, of a maximum of three minutes, in two groups. The other group members will comment on the pitches.
13:30 – 13:50 Introduction Training Course
13:50 – 14:15 Why/how sharing research? (Rob Buiter)
14:15 – 14:30 Pause
14:30 – 15:15 Presentation Pitches
15:15 – 15:30 Pause
15.30 – 15:50 Some good and bad examples of press releases.
15:50 – 16:15 Discussing the press releases
16:15 – 16:30 Pause
16:30 – 17:00 How to write an effective press release/short news article?(Astrid Smit)
17:00 – 17:30 The workshop will be closed with questions/discussion and the explanation of the ‘homework’ for workshop 2 and 3.
Workshop 2, Day 2
13:30 – 13:45 Welcome and short evaluation of the homework
13:45 – 14:15 Break out session 1. Discuss the first set of homework
14:15 – 14:30 Pause
14:30 – 15:15 Break out session 2: Discuss the second set of homework
15:15 – 15:30 Pause
15:30 – 16:15 Guest lecture by e.g. Arnold van Vliet (WUR): his experiences in presenting research to a broader audience.
16:15 – 16:30 Pause
16:30 – 17:15 The pitfalls: what’s the risk when you bring your research in the open? What can you expect from a journalist? What’s the cost, and what’s the benefit?
17:00 – 17:30 Questions & discussion, explanation of the assignment for next week: prepare a debate!
Fees
Reduced fee: WGS PhD candidates with a TSP |
€ 150 |
University fee: Other PhDs, postdocs and WGS staff |
€ 300 |
External fee: All other participants |
€ 450 |
Cancellation conditions
1. You may cancel free of charge up to 1 month before the start of the course.
2. Cancellation fee of 100% will be applied for persons cancelling less than one month prion to the start of the course or not showing up for the course.
3. The organisers have the right to cancel the course no later than one month before the planned course start date in the case that the number of registrations does not reach the minimum.
More information
Contact: wias@wur.nl or paddy.haripersaud@wur.nl . Please note that all email correspondence will go to the email address you provided in the registration.