This course is intended to build the capacity of government scientists, program managers, communicators and policymakers in science portfolios, to communicate scientific concepts and findings, and the potential impact of science, to diverse Canadian and international audiences. The course helps build the skills needed to bring science to bear in important public policy arenas, including both best practices and potential pitfalls to avoid. The two-day program is grounded in principles of adult learning and employs a mix of case-study presentations and group work.
Why should you attend?
- Scientists working in policy environments, including government departments and agencies, granting councils, not-for-profit agencies and think tanks
- Subject matter experts who may have to comment publicly on science-related topics
- Managers with responsibility for departmental science portfolios
- Communicators working to interpret scientific results and activities and to develop and disseminate science-based communication materials
- Scientists working in management roles
- Spokespersons in science-based organizations
Why should you attend?
- To improve skills for communicating the potential impact of science in ways that are compelling and persuasive to lay audiences;
- To develop an enhanced ability of to recognize windows of opportunity for use of scientific findings;
- To better avoid common pitfalls in communicating science
- To build the skills necessary to communicate science effectively in public policy environments.
What will you take away?
Participant workbook, references, bibliography and tip sheets.
Professional Competencies
- Thinking Things Through: Innovating through analysis and ideas
- Engagement: Working effectively with people, organizations, partners
Meet Your Instructor
Leah Jurkovic, President CEC
Leah has over 25 years of experience working at the intersection of communications, organizational change, and cultural transformation. As a former executive at Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan), Leah led both the communications and human… Read full bio
Sample Agenda
Day 1
| Activity |
|---|
| Introductions and Workshop Overview • Participant introductions • Overview of issues in communicating science to non-scientists: common pitfalls • Risk communication and science • Knowing Your Audience: principles of effective science communication |
| HEALTH BREAK |
| Science and the Written Word Participants will work together to transform a short piece of scientific writing into a crisp narrative that would capture the attention of decision-makers. |
| LUNCH |
| Science and the Spoken Word In this session, participants will discuss the tools and techniques to communicate the potential impact of science in language that is compelling, including the use of illustrative stories and anecdotes that have the power to make the impossible seem possible. This session will include some small group work. |
| HEALTH BREAK |
| Case Study: Science and Public Policy Debates Participants will discuss a real case study involving the use of science in a major public policy debate (possibilities include harm reduction and illegal drug use, risk-benefit analysis in pharmaceuticals, nuclear safety, BC salmon runs) |
Day 2
| Activity |
|---|
| Recap of Day 1: Key Messages |
| Recognizing “windows of opportunity” Participants will develop the tools to recognize “policy windows’ for the use of science, through the use of a case study and examples. |
| BREAK |
| Case Study: Communicating Science in a Crisis Participants will discuss a case study involving the use of science in a major public policy debate (possibilities include harm reduction and illegal drug use, risk-benefit analysis in pharmaceuticals, nuclear safety, BC salmon runs) |
| LUNCH |
| Best Practices in Organizational Communication of Research Participants will learn from some best practices in organizations related to structures and processes for the communication and uptake of science. |
| BREAK |
| Round Table Discussion Participants and the instructor will engage in questions and answers to discuss issues of specific interest to individual participants. |
| Wrap-up and Workshop Evaluation Participants will complete a short evaluation. |
I had a really good experience. I heard good things about your training before, and I wasn’t disappointed.