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26 early career scientists participated in the 2020 DZG-Workshop on science communication at NaWik Karlsruhe (Photo: Ulrike Brandt-Bohne\/NaWik)<\/em><\/p>\n Two experienced science communicators, Dr. Ulrike Brandt-Bohne, biologist and TV presenter of the ARD-science programme \u201eKopfball\u201c and biochemist and science journalist Ingo Knopf conducted the training in English and German.<\/p>\n During the first two days of an interactive seminar, participants learnt how to improve their presentation skills in order to communicate their research effectively and clearly to different target audiences. Each participant had to present a flash talk about their research project in language accessible to a lay audience. The trainers and participants provided feedback on how to improve the presentations.<\/p>\n How could the DZG present themselves at Berlin Science Week?<\/strong><\/p>\n On day three, everyone contributed to the design of six creative outreach activities in preparation for the Berlin Science Week in November 2020. Amongst the suggested activities was a \u201eDZG-Health Ralley\u201c, in which each of the six DZG would be represented with one information booth. The aim of the ralley would be to inform visitors about disease prevention. Further, it was suggested to run a pub quiz on \u201emilestones in history of science\u201c, a discussion forum on \u201ewomen in science\u201c and a medical detectives game encouraging visitors to guess the disease of a patient by interrogating experts. In another activity - \u201eTrain your brain on the train\u201c \u2013 travellers on trains would be encouraged to participate in excercises for the prevention of dementia. Another group came up with the idea of \u201eAt the Front Line of Science\u201c, where attendants could experience\u00a0 what its like to be a scientist first hand, by trying to fight a disease using information provided by experts. The participants presented their ideas with enthusiasm and discussed their feasibility with the trainers.<\/p>\n What makes a great presentation?<\/strong><\/p>\n All six DZL-participants drew positive conclusions from the workshop and mostly benefited from learning how to apply different formats to confer messages to scientific and non-scientific audiences alike.<\/p>\n Ettore Lignelli<\/strong>, PhD student at the Universities of Gie\u00dfen and Marburg Lung Center (UGMLC) explains: \u201eIt is important to keep it simple and to focus on the key message. When talking to a lay audience, it helps to point out the role science plays in their everyday lives\u201c.<\/p>\n Dr. Sandra Christochowitz<\/strong>, postdoc at the Translational Lung Research Center Heidelberg (TLRC) adds: \u201eThe meaning of words that are commonly used by scientists, like \u201echaracterise\u201c, might not be familiar to non-scientists with respect to its meaning in science. Therefore, it is important to choose your words wisely in order not to lose your listeners and to frustrate them. Also, the communication style has to be balanced carefully. Science should be presented objectively, but also in a way that it sparks the enthusiasm of the audience\u201c.<\/p>\n The participants did not only learn how to talk to a lay audience, it soon became apparent that even the communication with other scientists can have its challenges. Dominik Thiele,<\/strong> PhD student at the Airway Research Center North (ARCN) explains: \u201eWe are used to giving talks to experts in our field, but during the workshop, we explained our research to DZG-scientists of other fields and naturally had to adapt our language and our point of view\u201c.<\/p>\n Science communication \u2013 What\u2019s in it for me?<\/strong><\/p>\n Ali Doryab<\/strong>, PhD student at the Comprehensive Pneumology Center Munich knows that effective communication can help to facilitate interdisciplinary collaborations: \u201eAs biomedical engineer I work with biologists, engineers and medical doctors. I am always eager to improve the communication with my colleagues because it benefits our collaborations\u201c.<\/p>\n Alberro Brage\u2019s, <\/strong>a PhD student at UGMLC Gie\u00dfen, summarizes what benefits the exchange with a lay audience may have for scientists, especially if the planning of outreach events that take away precious time for research \u201eFor scientists publishing in peer-reviewed journals takes priority. Therefore, it might seem that reaching out to non-scientific audiences would not really benefit their career. However, outreach activities can improve the interaction between researchers and the general public, influence policy makers and have an everlasting positive impact on society\u201c.<\/p>\n Dominik Thiele<\/strong> adds: \u201eNowadays people doubt scientific results and willingly believe in alternative facts and Fake News. Outreach formats like the Berlin Science Week will hopefully strengthen people\u2019s trust in science again.\u201c<\/p>\n Henri Schulte<\/strong>, PhD student at Biomedical Research in End-stage and Obstructive Lung Disease Hanover (BREATH), has already been involved in organising Science Slams and highlights further advantages to scientists: \u201eThe participants of our Science Slams are usually highly motivated and engaged. They get an insight into other research fields and the opportunity to build networks with other scientists. We generally also observe slammers becoming more confident presenters\u201d.<\/p>\n
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