Get ready to engage with any audience!
Length: 1 day
When: 3rd September 2019 (10 am to 4 pm) - Lunch provided
Where: Lanyon building lecture theatre 0G/074
Open to: Postdocs (research fellows, senior research fellows, fellowship holders) from all Faculties at QUB; priority to the postdocs intending to present at the Postdoc Showcase then to those willing to participate in the Showcase’s poster exhibit. Postdocs not involved with the Postdoc Showcase will be able to attend too if places are available.
Places: 25
Cost: Free; but represents a significant investment from the PDC so attendance is compulsory once registered
Description:
What is your research about? While this is a relatively easy question to answer to another researcher, explaining your research to the general public can prove much more difficult…
Researchers are increasingly encouraged to communicate their work to the wider public but often feel ill-equipped to engage with non-experts and potential interdisciplinary stakeholders and collaborators.
This workshop, facilitated by experts in science communication, helps you discover your natural charisma, allowing you to connect more spontaneously and directly with your audience. Using improvisation, theatre skills and role-play, this course will help you tell your research story, access your personal style whilst maintaining the integrity and content of your speech or presentation.
“We are not dumbing down the message, we are uncovering simplicity within the complexity.” (Dr Niamh Shaw, course facilitator)
Whatever it is a pitch on stage, an interactive public engagement session, a networking event or a job interview, this course will give you the skills to introduce your research to a variety of audiences with confidence and flair!
Programme Objectives:
- Understand what makes a great speaker
- Identify your own personal presentation style
- Identify the key message you want to pass on and structure your pitch
- Find the best way to report your findings, notably using analogies
- Understand how to report to non-specialists
- Use your body language to better engage with your audience
Facilitators
Dr Niamh Shaw
Dr Niamh Shaw, engineer, scientist, artist and writer is an award-winning STEM communicator who has spoken internationally at science events including WIRED Live, Inspire Fest & New Scientist Live! She explores boundaries between STEM, art & communication, to share the human story of science as performer, public speaker, writer & contributor to online media, TV & radio.
A co-founder of Connect to Communicate, an SFI-funded initiative, she has been providing bespoke communications workshops for early career researchers and post graduates nationally and internationally since 2013.
Dr Fergus McAuliffe
Dr. Fergus Mc Auliffe is Communications, Education and Public Engagement manager of SFI-funded national research group, iCRAG. Alongside his research experience, Fergus also has a wide range of experience in science communication, through winning FameLab International in 2013, and is currently a presenter on “The Science Squad/10 Things to Know About” on RTE1 television.
