Online SciComm for Researchers

science communication through digital media

80% of researchers agree that outreach is important.

And there are many reasons to begin communicating science:

  • a sense of obligation towards the taxpayer
  • a sense of social responsibility
  • a need for public support
  • a mandate from funding programs
  • a need for personal development
  • a need for a hobby

But, the skills needed to communicate with lay audiences online are not part of the traditional academic career training.

This is why I want to help researchers choose a medium to try (first) and the basic knowledge necessary for a good start.

My upcoming online course will provide

  • the basics of communication using digital media
  • step-by-step procedures to produce digital SciComm content
  • a practical overview over my creation processes

I am Dennis

I have a PhD in neuroscience and following more than a decade of research experience at internationally renowned institutions, I became an independent science communicator in 2019.

I have media experience from

  • creating informational videos
  • creating science communication podcasts
  • writing and fact checking web video scripts for science journalists
  • managing social media accounts for a SciComm event organizer
  • running a rotating-curation account on Twitter

There have been many delays for a plethora of reasons, which is why I can not give you a publication date at this point.

The current outline of the course

PART 1: Universal Communication Basics

  • Introduction
  • 1. 4 Steps for Successful Communication

Lecture 2: 4 Steps to Communication.

  • 2.1. Grabbing Attention
  • 2.2. Satisfy Expectation
  • 2.3.1. Engagement through Storytelling
  • 2.3.2. Engagement through Pacing
  • 2.4. Calls to Action

PART 2: Practicable Advice

Lecture 3: Gathering Material

  • 3.1. Reporting – What do I need to cover?
  • 3.2. Interview others: Asking the right questions.
  • 3.3. Multimedia Resources

Lecture 4: From Outline to Text, Script and Storyboard

  • 4.1. Writing: Blogs, Scripts and Storyboards

Lecture 5: Audiovisual communication

  • 5.1. Audio: Sound, Recording, Mic-Technique, Editing, Gear
  • 5.2. Video: Lighting, Recording, On-Camera-Performance, Editing, Gear

Lecture 6: My Production Processes

  • 6.1. How I Microblog (Twitter)
  • 6.2. How I Podcast
  • 6.3. How I create web videos
  • 6.4. How I create short-form Videos (< 60s)

Lecture 7: Attracting an Audience

  • 7.1. Marketing & SEO
  • 7.2. Building Community on Social Platforms

PART 3:

Lecture 8: Being a Science Communicator

  • 8.1. Strategy for busy researchers.
  • 8.2. Represent.