GEN-8007 How to communicate your research - 3 stp

Communicating science to a variety of audiences is an important skill that all researchers have to learn at some point of their carrier. Whether you want to tweet about your current research project, create a podcast, give a talk to peers at a scientific conference, give an interview for the media or explaining your research to a school class, science communication is part and can be a rewarding task of a researcher’s everyday life.

You will gain an overview of the different communication channels that can be used for research outreach and understand how to use them for your own communication needs through practical exercises. This course will help you to become more confident in the role as communicator and we hope that it inspires you to become an active science communicator. The detailed programme will be published in the respective Canvas room.

PhD students at UiT register for the course through StudentWeb before 1 February. The registration starts in middle of December. 

Other applicants apply for admission through SøknadsWeb before 1. December. Application code 9301. Applicants who are granted a seat, needs to register for classes and exam in StudentWeb before 1 February. The registration starts in middle of December.

This course is aimed at PhD candidates from all scientific disciplines, but is open for postdoc fellows if seats are available. If PhD candidates aim to include the credits from the course in the 30 mandatory PhD ECTS, this should be discussed with the supervisor.

PhD students from UiT and other universities in Norway may be admitted to the course. PhD students that are not registered at UiT must upload a document from their university, stating that there are registered PhD students. This group of applicants does not have to prove English proficiency and are exempt from semester fee.

Maximum 20 participants. The course will be cancelled if less than 10 participants.

If more than 20 applicants, priority will be given as follows:

• Participants admitted to the PhD programme at UiT that are in the 2. - 4. year of their PhD project
• Participants admitted to the PhD programme at UiT that that are in the first year of their PhD project
• Participants in the Associate Professor programme (Førstelektorprogrammet)
• PhD candidates from other universities
• People with a minimum of a Master´s degree (or equivalent), who have not been admitted to a PhD programme. Holders of a Master´s degree must upload a Master´s Diploma with Diploma Supplement / English translation of the diploma and must document proficiency in English. A detailed list of various criteria to qualify for English language proficiency can be found here: English proficiency

Please contact Ingjerd Gauslaa Nilsen at the BFE-faculty if you have troubles or questions regarding registration to the course.

Who can apply as a singular course student:

• PhD student enrolled at another institution than UiT. PhD students must upload a document from their university stating that there are registered PhD students. This group of applicants does not have to prove English proficiency and are exempt from semester fee.
• Holders of a master´s degree of five years or 3+2 years (or equivalent) may be admitted. These applicants must upload a Master´s Diploma with Diploma Supplement / English translation of the diploma. Applicants from listed countries must document proficiency in English. To find out if this applies to you, see the following list: Proficiency in English must be documented - list of countries. For more information on accepted English proficiency tests and scores, as well as exemptions from the English proficiency tests, please see the following document: Proficiency in english - PhD level studies.

Knowledge:

• Understand the variety of communication channels that can be used to communicate public science and recognize their possibilities and limitations
• Determine the relevant audience and communication channels for different outreach purposes
• Have a critical understanding of the role of the research community in public science communication
• Recognize the journalists working methods and realities

Skills:

• Can communicate research and development work through recognized media channels and knows how to create interest for the story
• Know how to communicate complex research topics to media with a clear message and structure
• Be able to adjust communication to different media channels and target groups

General competence:

• Recognize the importance of public science communication for the research community and in a societal perspective
• Reflect on and develop individual strengths as a communicator

Written home exam at the end of the course. The exam will be assessed as either pass or fail.

Coursework requirement:

In order to sit an examination, the student must complete and gain approval for the following coursework requirements:

• Submission of a press release based on their own research projects (more information will be announced on Canvas).
• Minimum 80% course participation.

Re-sit exam:

There is no re-sit exam.

The date for the exam can be changed. The final date will be announced at your faculty early in May and early in November.