SBRI19014U Science Communication and Media Skills

Volume 2021/2022
Education

BRIDGE - Translational Excellence Programme

A two-year postdoctoral fellowship in translational medicine

Content

This course will introduce the participants to how to work strategically with research communication via traditional news media and social media. Based on research and theory, the course will also provide central tools and ways of working strategically with research communication – on how to get started and how to maintain a certain level of activity.

 

The purpose of this course is to provide participants with knowledge on research communication; on how researchers can successfully appear in the traditional media and on social media; and on how journalists work and think when working with researchers. This course will provide specific tools, which the participants can use in their everyday practice when working with journalists and social media.

 

The workshop format in this course entails that all input and tools are connected to the individual researcher’s own research project – and joint discussions give the opportunity for mutual inspiration. During the course, we will focus on both written texts to journalists, communication plans, social media and traditional media, interviews and how to prepare and participate in interviews.

 

The course leaders are experts in strategic research communication and are highly experienced in using news media and social media to communicate about research. The course will also contain guest lectures where experienced researchers and journalists will describe and discuss their own experiences when it comes to research communication and the relationship between researchers, journalists and the media.

Learning Outcome

On completion of the course, the participants should be able to:

 

Knowledge

  • Theoretical knowledge on research communication, strategic communication, journalism and media research
  • Practical knowledge on how traditional and social media works and how they can be used for effective research communication
  • Knowledge on how to create goals for research communication and create strategies and plans
  • Knowledge on how to collaborate with journalists

 

Skills

  • Be able to create relevant news stories for traditional media and work effectively with journalists
  • Be able to use social media in an effective manner when it comes to research communication
  • Be able to create goals, strategies and plans for research communication
  • Be able to link and discuss theoretical knowledge and previous research in relation to their own professional practice and their own research communication

 

Competences

  • Be able to create an effective strategy for their research communication ensuring that they reach their goals
  • Be able to engage strategically and effectively in research communication via both traditional and social media – and to collaborate efficiently with journalists and prepare and participate in interviews

Course literature is published on Absalon.

 

Course literature includes:

David J. Bennett & Richard C. Jennings (2011): Successful Science Communication. Cambridge.


Gitte Gravengaard & Anders Monrad Rendtorff (2020) Forskningskommunikation. Samfundslitteratur.

Participants must meet the admission criteria in BRIDGE - Translational Excellence Programme
The course consists of both lectures, discussions and hands-on activities in groups or individually. This workshop format means that all presentations, input and tools are combined with the participants’ own research and practice. Furthermore, we will have exercises and discussions providing opportunities for mutual inspiration.

The course leaders are experts in strategic research communication and are highly experienced in using news media and social media to communicate about research. The course will also contain guest lectures where experienced researchers and journalists will describe and discuss their own experiences when it comes to research communication and the relationship between researchers, journalists and the media.

Furthermore, participants prepare a short e-mail for a journalist on a specific topic from their own research prior to the course. During the course this is discussed by groups of participants.
Also, we have a role-play: TV-interviews where participants are filmed and receive feedback.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Lectures
  • 8
  • Theory exercises
  • 6
  • Total
  • 14
Oral
Continuous feedback during the course of the semester
Credit
0 ECTS
Type of assessment
Continuous assessment
Course participation
Attendance and active participation

• Portfolio
• Preparation of a three minute pitch of own research prior to course
• Providing feedback to fellow course participant
• Subsequently submit a communication plan for own research and provide feedback to a fellow participants communication plan
Exam registration requirements

Participants are automatically registered for the Examination upon course registration.

Aid
All aids allowed
Marking scale
passed/not passed
Censorship form
No external censorship
Criteria for exam assesment

Active contribution and course participation according to the BRIDGE Guidelines.